No fewer than 800 corps members of the 2023 Batch B Stream 1 posted to Benue State by the National Youth Service Corps for the one-year mandatory service have applied to be redeployed out of the state.
This was disclosed by the state governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, on Tuesday at the closing ceremony of the Batch B Stream 1 orientation course held at the NYSC Camp in Wannune, Tarka Local Government Area of the state.
Disturbed by the development, however, the governor immediately announced a monthly stipend of N15,000 for each corps member posted to the state.
“Henceforth, each corps member posted to Benue State will be paid N15,000 monthly by the state government, while the medical doctors will be paid N100,000 each,” the governor said.
An official of the NYSC, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said following the declaration by the governor, the corps had seen a gale of retrieval of redeployment forms by the corps members.
“Following the promise made by the governor, as I am talking to you now, many of those who earlier sought redeployment from Benue State have started coming back to withdraw the redeployment forms.
“About 1,500 corps members were posted to Benue State for the Batch B Stream 1 out of this, 800 corps members sought redeployment from the state,” the official told our correspondent on the phone.
Before this period, corps members posted to Benue State received nothing from the state government.
Alia, while promising to provide an enabling environment for the corps members, said, “Remember that you are part of the larger vision to build a better nation. Each one of you possesses unique skills and talents that can contribute to the growth and development of our beloved state and country at large.
“Embrace your role as ambassadors of change, and let your actions reflect the values of integrity, innovation, and compassion.”
Earlier, the Benue State Coordinator of the NYSC, Mr Abe Ashumate, appreciated the governor for his magnanimity and for making the welfare of the corps members his priority.
He cautioned the corps members against acts that can endanger their lives, such as staying out late, attending night parties, visiting dangerous places, and accepting lifts and gifts from strangers.
