The National Youth Service Corps has extended the service year of nine corps members in Gombe and Sokoto States.
The Gombe State Coordinator, Dawut Jidda, and his counterpart in Sokoto, Alhaji Usman Yakubu Yaro, disclosed this on Thursday at the low-key passing out ceremony of 344, 2022 Batch C stream I Corps members at the Federal Secretariats.
The NYSC also disclosed that no fewer than three corps members absconded, with one said to have passed on, while six others got extensions in varying degrees of service in Gombe State.
Jidda said the actual number was meant to be 355 but with the exclusion of 10 for different reasons.
He explained that corps members whose punishment is extension would be remobilised based on the offences they committed, adding that they were sanctioned using laid down byelaws.
He said, “Due to the exigencies of the times, management has approved the Passing-out ceremony to be low-key and observed at the Local Government level. The Certificate of National Service will be issued to deserving Corps Members and of course, those who have fallen short of the Byelaws will be sanctioned accordingly.
“A total number of 354 Corps Members are expected to have exited from the Service today but, three absconded cases and will be remobilised for a repeat of service, and six will have an extension of service in varying degrees according to their offence.
“On a very sad note, we recorded one death in the course of the service year. The fallen hero died in active service. We pray to God to grant her soul eternal rest. So, a balance of 344 Corps Members will be issued their CNN accordingly.”
Meanwhile, in Sokoto, three corps members, 2022 Batch C Stream 1, are to repeat their entire service year in the state for alleged misconduct and abscondment.
The NYSC state Coordinator, Alhaji Usman Yakubu Yaro, disclosed this on Thursday at the passing-out ceremony of the 2022 Batch C Stream 1 corps members.
He maintained that NYSC is a scheme of reward and punishment, stating that the scheme has zero tolerance for truancy, and would not hesitate to punish any erring corps member.
Usman said out of 527 corps members who passed, a male and female have been shortlisted for the Sultan Meritorious Award for their outstanding contributions to the development of the state during their service year.
He further pointed out that the scheme posted a high number of corps medical personnel to the rural areas where they are most needed.
