By A’isha Biola Raji
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has rejected the policy of charging National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members N4,000 for on-line registration into the camp, for the one year compulsory service to their fatherland by the NYSC authorities.
This was made known yesterday, in a statement signed by Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, the Congress’ General Secretary. The statement read: “We, at the Nigeria Labour Congress, are opposed to the policy of charging corps members N4,000 for on-line registration.”
Commending the NYSC authorities for bringing up the ‘register on-line initiative’, which according to the Congress, will save costs and risks associated with travel. It however finds it improper the idea of charging the prospective corps members.
“While we commend the authorities of the National Youth Service Corps for this initiative which evidently saves prospective corps members from costs and risks associated with movement or travel, we certainly find it morally wrong for the authorities to turn this initiative into a money-making venture”, it stated.
According to NLC, the authorities of NYSC should not take advantage of the weak and the vulnerable. “As a general rule, any technology that seeks to increase the cost of production is not worth the effort.
“In the instance case, we have reason to believe that the on-line registration initiative helps to reduce both administrative and bureaucratic costs, which NYSC had borne all along. Embracing technology should reduce operating cost, time and wastage.
“The authorities at the NYSC are however advised to retrace their steps by way of withdrawing charges associated with the policy,” the statement read.
