Councils’, chairmen tasked on provision of accommodation for corps members

By Stanley Onyekwere

Chairmen of the six Area Councils of the FCT have been appealed to as a matter of urgency assist in provision of accommodation for members of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving within their respective domains.
Making appeal, the FCT Coordinator of the NYSC, Hajiya Walida Isa, decried the plight of corps members posted to serve in rural areas of the FCT.
Hajiya Isa made this known on Wednesday, when she led a delegation of NYSC officials on a courtesy call on the chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Abdullahi Adamu Candido, in his office.
She disclosed more than 90 per cent of corps members rent apartments themselves, which she said was the responsibilities of the local government authorities they are attached to as their primary place of assignment.
The NYSC boss suggested that the Councils’ chairmen could decide to pay the corps members stipends for accommodation should it be impossible for them to provide suitable accommodation.
According to her, “It is the responsibility of the local governments and states to provide accommodation.
“If you can look into that direction, it will help them settle down to do their service.”
Responding, the AMAC Chairman however reiterated the commitment of the council towards supporting the activities of corps members.
He subtly assured the NYSC team that the council would however consider places in the rural axis for a suitable accommodation.
He however adds: “The area council, here in particular, we don’t have the liberty of owning land. The power is with FCT.”
According to him, AMAC would continue to do its best in ensuring corps members are comfortable during their posting to the council.