Plateau Corps Members Write Protest Letter to Plateau NYSC State Coordinator

Corps members in Plateau State have written a letter of protest to their
State coordinator.To
show their grievances and the hardship they are going through

The
letter explained that the corps members would boycott some activities
due to financial incapacity. They also expressed their unhappy mood as
both the NYSC and FG couldn’t say anything. The corps members believe
that the non-payment of the allowance can frustrate and could drive many
Corps Members into dishonest and fraudulent acts.

Read the letter below.

From Concerned Corps Members                                                                                      11^th July 2018.

The State Coordinator,

National Youth Service Corps,

Plateau State.

Sir,

LETTER OF PROTEST FOR NONPAYMENT OF MONTHLY ALLOWANCE FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE

The above subject refers. We write pursuant to Paragraph 12(2) of the National Youth Service Corps Bye-Laws, 2011.

We
want to bring to your notice the hardship Corps Members are passing
through as a result of the nonpayment of the June allowance. It is
noteworthy that a Corps Member largely depends on the monthly allowance
to meet basic needs which include paying for accommodation, feeding,
transportation to and fro place of primary assignment as well as to
weekly CDS meetings, to mention but a few. Things are worsened by the
fact that most PPAs do not pay Corps Members anymore and we are away
from home.

It is unfortunate also to note that Corps Members are
not credit-worthy, that is, we find it difficult to buy goods and more
on credit as we may not have earned the trust and relationship or
financial stability to be given credit. The frustration is increasing on
a daily basis as we are not only losing weight but also causing harm to
our vital internal organs due to malnutrition. The situation is even
more complicated as parents generally assume that Corps members should
take care of themselves and have shut their minds to any financial
assistance whatsoever.

Sir, we are surprised that up till now no
official statement has been made as to the cause of this inordinate
delay in paying our June allowance or as to when we will be paid by
NYSC. We direct your attention to the provisions of Section 1(1–3) of
the National Youth Service Corps Act (as amended) bordering on
establishment and objectives of the National Youth Service Corps, to
know if we are still on course.

This frustration may drive many
Corps Members into dishonest and fraudulent acts which you preach
against. This could be done in the name of survival. It is only a matter
of time before this situation turns to total abandonment. We are in a
place totally unfamiliar to us to serve our Father Land with the implied
agreement that what is due to us will be paid without delay as with our
Monthly Allowance. But things are turning out the other way.

Having outlined our grievances, we want to state our resolve to you, Sir:

1. We still believe in the efficacy and importance of the NYSC scheme as far as it keeps serving the good of all.
2. We deserve an official apology for the delay in payment of our June allowance.
3. Also, we demand the pay our June allowance on or before Friday 13^th July 2018.
4. Failure to pay allowance for June on or before Friday 13^th July 2018, will result in a sit at home, from work and CDS by concerned Corps Members
5. In addition, failure to pay allowance for June on or before Friday 13^th
   July 2018, will entitle us to take our complaints and protest to any
   authority in search of a remedy and in accordance with justice and rule
   of law.
6. Failure to pay allowance for June on or before Friday 13^th
   July 2018, will entitle any Concerned Corps Member to seek means of
   livelihood within the confines of the Law, even if it means travelling
   outside his/her State of deployment until payment is made.
7. Any
   attempt to victimize any Concerned Corps Member in line with the
   chronology of our course of action will not be accepted at any standard
   and we will take all steps within our reach to redeem the concerned Corp
   Member.

We know the State Coordinator is our father and will not do anything to hurt his Children when they have a legitimate claim.

Please accept of warmest regards.