“It’s Sad NYSC Directorate Shifted Its Responsibilities To States” – Ekiti Governor

By Ayodele Oni

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has sought the assistance of the Senate Committee on Youth Development in providing support for the upgrade of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp in the state.

The Governor also appealed to the Committee to develop policies aimed at fostering skill acquisition among Nigerian youths, emphasizing that education without skills in this modern era will put the youths at a disadvantage.

The Ekiti NYSC Camp recently recorded a casualty when the wall of one of the buildings collapse early in the morning.

Governor Oyebanji, sought the support in Ado- Ekiti during a meeting with members of the Senate Committee on Youth Development led by the Chairman, Yemi Adaramodu, shortly after their fact finding visit  to the NYSC camp as at Emure Ekiti.

The Governor expressed concern over the poor condition of the NYSC camp, noting  that the facility had suffered neglect over time following the inability of the NYSC to adequately maintain the camp.

He, however, urged the Senate Committee members to ensure adequate budget provision for the camp in next year’s federal budget, in order to upgrade facilities at the camp.

“I am not happy that NYSC has shifted its responsibility to the State. Ideally both of us should be responsible, but NYSC just washed off hands from their facilities in the State.

“We are doing our best to fix the road leading to the camp and fix 45 Units of convenience facilities, in addition to other interventions.

“I implore you to ensure adequate provision for the camp in the next budget so the facilities can be upgraded.”

Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the Committee on Youth Development, Yemi Adaramodu, appreciated the  Governor for his intervention during the recent near-disaster in the NYSC camp and his commitment and dedication towards the youth development in the state.

According to him, the purpose of the visit was to assess the condition of the camp and identify areas requiring urgent intervention, adding that  despite the Senate being on recess, the visit was prioritized to incorporate the rehabilitation of the camp in the upcoming budget deliberation.

Adaramodu highlighted the significance of the visit to include providing support for the efforts of the state government, while also promising that his Committee would contribute 250 mattresses and chairs to the camp as palliative measure while working on the major intervention.

He also promised to personally facilitate the construction of a new hall as a constituency project and the installation of solar-powered street lights to improve security within the camp.