By Stephen Ojo
The Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has announced the award of N200 000 bonus to all the Youth Corps members serving in the state.
The Governor stated this on Tuesday while declaring open the 2024 batch B Orientation programme in Paiko Orientation camp.
Bago also announced that the construction of the NYSC permanent Orientation camp at Paiko will soon commence at the cost of N5 billion naira.
Addressing the parade of the NYSC members, Farmer Governor Bago invited them to join his agricultural revolution in Niger State by getting employment with the Niger Foods Ltd, adding that, ” those of you who would be employed will be paid N500,000 monthly. It is better to join us than to be looking for government employment of N60,000 monthly salaries “.
He directed that 20 cows and a trailer load of rice be made available at the NYSC camp to ensure adequate feeding of Corps members during the three weeks orientation exercise.
In a remark, the Minister of Youth, Dr. Jamila Ibrahim said 5,000 NYSC members are to benefit N10 million grants each from the federal government entrepreneurial scheme .
According to her, ” the ministry has gone into partnership with the Niger state government in food production towards ensuring food security in the country “.
According to her, ” In May this year, we announced a ground breaking initiative to empower at least 5,000 NYSC members with up to ten million naira each for entrepreneurial ventures upon completion of their service”.
She explained that in line with this, significant reforms to the NYSC program are being introduced, integrating skills development and entrepreneurship into Corps members service year.
The Minister said that these changes are designed to make NYSC members experience a period of national service and a time to gain valuable skills and knowledge, adding that, ” embracing these reforms will make your service year more impactful and economically beneficial, equipping you with the tools for professional and personal advancement”.