By Ene Osang
Abuja
Minister of Youth Development, Boni Haruna, has assured members of the governing board of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) of his ministry’s maximum support, pledging non-interference in their statutory responsibilities.
Speaking during a courtesy visit of the board to the ministry, he said the ministry would complement on the effort of the board to ensure that it delivers on its mandate.
He said: “We assure you that we will not interfere in you statutory responsibility. We are supposed to oversee area that we will come in as a parent ministry. We will complement on your effort so that you can deliver on your mandate.”
He commended the different programmes being carried out by the scheme, particularly the War Against Poverty, expressing optimism that with the success story the project had recorded, the proposed National Youth Development Fund was attainable.
“If they can succeed with a record of N3, 060 beneficiaries and a very impressive record of the payment which is about N500, I think it is a testimony that if we have this fund, we have the capacity to run it.”
Haruna called for the upholding and sustenance of the principle of discipline on which basis the scheme was formed, arguing that no meaningful development can be achieved where there is absence of discipline.
Earlier, the Chairman of the board, Chief Gordon Bozimo, appealed for the expansion areas of posting of corps members beyond the present four-key areas as well as better funding of the Scheme in view of its increasing responsibilities.
