TheCable

The federal government has released funds meant for the Batch ‘A’ Stream II orientation programme of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

NYSC disclosed this on Tuesday, saying the programme scheduled for Saturday will go on as planned.

Prospective corps members had expressed concerns after Sule Kazaure, director-general of the service, told the senate committee on youth and sport that the programme might be postponed as a result of lack of funds.

“We are presently at a loss in NYSC now as there is no money for us to mobilise thousands of prospective corps members in the Batch A Stream 2 to camp this Saturday,” he had said.

“This is in spite of efforts made by us to get things done in that direction several weeks ago. The problem staring us in the face arose from the N13 billion shortfall we had in the 2016 budget estimate which the agency made strong request for its provision during budget defence.”

However, in a statement issued on Tuesday, NYSC thanked the government for its intervention.

“The National Youth Service Corps wishes to express profound appreciation of the federal government’s intervention through the release of funds for the 2016 Batch ’A’ stream II orientation course,” the statement read.

“Consequent upon government’s intervention, Management is pleased to inform prospective Corps members, parents, guardians and the rest of the general public that the 2016 Batch ‘A’ Stream II orientation course will hold as planned.

“As a reminder, all are to note that the Orientation Course will commence on Saturday, 21st May, 2016 and end on Monday, 6th June, 2016.

“Therefore, all prospective corps members are advised to print their call-up letters online or collect same from their respective institutions of graduation as applicable.

“They are to report to the orientation camps in their states of deployment whose addresses would be shown on their call-up letters.

“Management wishes all prospective Corps members a hitch-free and rewarding orientation course.”

A University of Ibadan graduate, who will be joining the next batch, expressed delight over the development.

“I am very happy that we are finally going to camp. It seemed like we were waiting for what would never come,” she told TheCable.

“Waiting to begin registration was like a necessary evil and when the postponement started, it only worsened the situation. If it’s to only march in the camp, let’s go and march.”