On-line registration is for security of corps members-NYSC

The National Youth Service Corps, (NYSC) has advanced reasons behind the introduction of the online registration of corps members saying it will, among other things, shield the fresh graduates from any security threat in any part of the country.

“Given the security challenge in some states of the federation and the observed cumbersome process of collection of call-up letters in most institutions, the idea was conceived to remove all impediments that make the mobilization process a nightmare for the graduates,” the NYSC Director, Press and Public Relations, Mrs. OlubunmiAderibigbe said in a statement yesterday.

The NYSC was reacting to some reports which suggest a misunderstanding of the on-line registration for the mobilization of corps members and the rationale behind it.

“The whole idea is not only noble but was indeed designed in the best interest of the Corps members.

“For instance, we saw no need why any graduate  to travel hundreds of kilometers with all the associated risks, just to collect his/her Call-Up Letter. By registering online, the idea that any unscrupulous official could make the process of collection of Call-up letter difficult for Corps members will also be eliminated,” the NYSC said.

However, as a result of competing needs, it was obvious that the lean purse of the scheme cannot fund such a massive deployment of technology commensurate with desired efficiency, accurate data and seamless operations, the corps said.

To this end, she therefore said, in 2013, the scheme decided to key into the federal government’s approved National policy on Public Private Partnership (PPP) as a veritable tool for building a world-class infrastructure that would drive the process.

She also said the need to deploy full ICT solutions for the processing of data of mobilized graduates and coordinating the institutions have become compelling, so as to sustain efficiency in the operation of the scheme by creating a more graduate friendly mobilization process.

She said despite the obvious merits of the initiative, the NYSC management has deliberately made the on-line registration optional for those who may choose to travel to their schools to collect their Call Up letters.

She said that since the commencement of the initiative, the scheme has witnessed high level of acceptance from graduates, who saw its benefits: Easy mobilization for graduates who only need to register and print their Call-up letters on-line without embarking on a needless and potentially risky journey to their schools.