*Suspension Of CDS, Biometric Stands
THE National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has dismissed what it described as misleading information in the media regarding the payment of N70,000 minimum wage to corps members.
A statement signed by its Director of Information and Public Relations, Mr. Eddy Megwa, urged corps members, parents and the public to note that no directive had been received from the relevant authority of government responsible to raise the allowance of corps members, adding that corps members already know the approved channel and mode of communication in the scheme and should, therefore, ignore misleading information accordingly.
The scheme charged corps members to desist from allowing mischief-makers set to mislead Nigerians continuing to play on their intelligence.
According to the statement: “The attention of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) management has been drawn to misleading information circulating in the media regarding payment of N70,000 minimum wage to corps members and the directive to upgrade their accounts. This is an absolute falsehood which is far from the truth.
“Corps members, parents and members of the public should note that no directive has been received from the relevant sector of government responsible for wages matters.
“It is, therefore, impossible for the NYSC to issue any information on such. Corps members already know the approved channel and mode of communication in the scheme and should, therefore, ignore the directive accordingly.
“The NYSC, by this release therefore admonishes corps members to desist from allowing mischief makers who are set to mislead Nigerians from continuing to play on their intelligence.
“Bloggers and social media influencers are warned to stop issuing statements that concern the management of NYSC without authorisation.”
President Bola Tinubu last month signed the Bill into law and there have been expectations, especially by corps members, that their allowances would be upgraded immediately to reflect the new law.
Meanwhile, the scheme has maintained that its directive on the suspension of biometric clearance and Community Development Services (CDS) subsists, contrary to a circular making the rounds on social media purportedly signed by the NYSC director general.
It clarified that the directory in circulation was a ruse that only existed in the imagination of those it described as unpatriotic element(s) behind its issuance, lamenting the spate of misleading information being rolled out by mischievous persons, which has become a matter of grave concern.
Megwa said in a statement: “The Scheme is now poised to employ all means in unmasking and dealing accordingly with these perpetrators. No genuine circular from the NYSC has or will ever be released through social media bloggers.
“For the purpose of clarity, the NYSC’s directive on the suspension of biometric clearance and Community Development Services (CDS) still subsists.
“Corps members will be adequately informed through the official channels of communication when the suspension is lifted.
“Furthermore, corps members should be reminded again that the NYSC and indeed the Federal Government remain absolutely committed to their welfare throughout the service year.
“It is for this reason that successive administrations have always ensured that members of the service corps are always included in every wage review in the history of our nation. The situation in this instance will not also be different.
“While we await government pronouncement on the newly increased minimum wage, all corps members are warned against allowing anyone to instigate them to embark on any form of protest, as it will be a clear departure from the oath they swore to and the provisions of the NYSC bye-laws.
“The Scheme will not hesitate to invoke the content of NYSC Act and bye-law on any corps member that takes law into his hands.
“Be rest assured that a second will not be wasted in issuing pronouncement and implementing same as soon as the scheme gets the go ahead from the appropriate authorities on any review of your stipend.”
