By Etatsemi Onoriode
Obiaruku: The Executive Chairman, Ukwuani Local Government, Hon (Barr.) Mrs. Benedicta Ndudi Osakunih-Izuegbu has charged corps members serving in the council area to utilize the opportunities the service year offer and make every single day count.
The council boss made this call while playing host to the Delta State NYSC Co-ordinator, Mr. Omotade Ayodele Benjamin in her office, where She said despite the economic recession crippling different sectors of the economy and the deplorable financial situation of the council that her administration will ensure that the issue of nonpayment of monthly stipends to corpers serving in the council secretariat is addressed even when the money coming to the council now was strictly meant for the payment of workers’ salaries based on the staff biometric.
Hon Osakunih-Izuegbu however stated that the council at the moment has no money to pay for separate accommodations for corps members order than the ones provided by communities and schools; adding that the Ezionum community is building a very big lodge for corps members that will be posted to the town.
The chairman promised to provide a befitting, comfortable and permanent office for NYSC within the council secretariat complex; also, while responding to the plea of the NYSC Co-ordinator, she said that the council will provide land for as many corpers serving in the area that would want to go into agriculture to cultivate while their service year lasted.
Earlier in his address, the NYSC State Co-ordinator, Mr. Omotade Ayodele Folorunso Benjamin had appealed to the Chairman to help tackle the challenges being faced by corpers serving in Ukwuani Local Government Area.
Mr Ayodele also, informed the council of a day set aside for cultural exhibition within the 21 days Orientation of corp members in camp, he invited the Ukwuani Local Government to come and showcase their rich cultures so as to get the corpers acquainted with the culture and lifestyle of the Ukwuani people before their posting.
The State Co-ordinator further appealed to the council to provide lands for corpers to cultivate instead of wasting their CDS days meeting and doing other things -“they should be engaged in agriculture and skill acquisition programmes and to contribute their quotas in the diversification anthem being sang in the country. ”
Meanwhile, the Head of Personnel Management (HPM) of the council, Mr. Frank Atube appreciated the NYSC State Coordinator for the visit to Ukwuani; and assured them that their requests would be adequately addressed as soon as possible and other areas taken care of.
