President Muhammadu
Buhari has described the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme as a
laudable one that needs to be sustained as it affords the opportunity
for Nigerian youths to understand the country better.
“People
come from far and wide; some from Victoria Island in Lagos have not
even been to Ikeja. They now find themselves in Daura and other parts of
the country. Whenever I go to my town, I get in touch with members;
some of them from Lagos, some from Port Harcourt,” he stated.
President
Buhari who said this Thursday in Abuja while playing host to corps
members who came on a thank-you visit to him, also praised General
Yakubu Gowon for the initiative.
“Whenever I meet General Gowon
up till today, I thank him for initiating the NYSC. It is a nationalist
and patriotic thinking that led to the development of the scheme,” he
added
Four members representing others countrywide came to convey
their “deepest gratitude” to the President over the recent increase in
their monthly allowances from N19,800 to N33,000.
According to
them, “the implementation in January, when we least expected it brought
tears of joy to us as we had doubts of the promises earlier made.”
“You have demonstrated that you are a loving and caring father committed to the welfare of his children,” they added.
They
also reiterated their commitment to do their best during their period
in the scheme. “The increase is a wake-up call to us to show more
commitment to the affairs of our fatherland. We are great stakeholders
in our collective determination of building a prosperous and united
Nigeria, the future belongs to us.”
The NYSC members were led to
the State House by the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday
Dare and the Director General of the scheme Brigadier General Ibrahim
Shehu.