The former Director General of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Brig. Gen. Johnson Olawumi, yesterday announced that efforts to ensure an increase in the monthly allowance of serving corp members would soon yield positive result.
Johnson Olawumi made this disclosure in during his handover ceremony to the new Director General of the scheme, Brig. Gen. Sule Kazaure which took place at the NYSC National Secretariat in Abuja, explaining that the management of the scheme had drawn the attention of the Federal Government to the need to increase the allowances through a series of letter written to the government to that effect.
“There seem to be a ray of light at the end of tunnel,” he said.
Brig. Gen. Johnson Olawumi further revealed that the major problem he encountered as Director General of the scheme was the increasing number of the corp population which was accompanied with the decline in financial resources. As a result of paucity of funds, he said, some of the major programmes and activities could not be executed.
According to the ex-NYSC DG;
“The scheme was not able to handle some of its programmes especially the sports and cultural festival in 2015.
“You may not be aware that series of letters that have been written and necessary follow up to the appropriate authorities on the need for proper funding of the scheme. This is especially important now that the current corps population has risen to 260,000 per year.”
He advised his successor to place the welfare of corps members and staff at the top of his priority list in order to boost their morale for effective service delivery and also urged the staff to extend the cooperation he enjoyed during his stay in the scheme to the new DG to achieve the desired result. Brig.-Gen. Johnson Olawumi who was redeployed to the Nigeria Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering said:

“On Monday, Jan. 6, 2014, I assumed duty as the 16th Chief Executive of the scheme during which I pledged to be transparent, fair and just to all toward the uplifting of the scheme.
“I am glad to mention here that since I came on board, I have said times without number that NYSC staff are industrious, competent and committed. I am also proud to say that your unalloyed loyalty, support and general work ethics during my two years, three month tenure. I could not have achieved much if I did not get your loyalty and support. In the same vein, I crave your indulgence to continue to support the new Director General to enable him consolidate on the success and achievements so far recorded.
“Your role in the sustenance of the scheme cannot be over emphasised as this has over the years contributed to the development and progress of the country.”
In his response, the incoming DG, Brig. Gen. Sule Kazaure, acknowledged that the tasks ahead was huge, and therefore called on all staff to through their weight behind him for the purpose of achieving more success in line with the vision of the present administration.
Hear him:
“I know that the tasks ahead are enormous and the road is rough, but with unity of purpose we will make progress. Therefore, I urge all to be pro active, positive and optimistic in all our dealings so that our individual effort will result insuccess in line with the vision of the present administration.
“On my part, I understand the important of motivation for staff, I will endeavor to be fair, transparent in my administration to enable us succeed together. I want to appeal for the support and loyalty that you gave outgoing DG in the achievement made toward moving the scheme to the greater height.”