Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring the safety and welfare of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members serving in the state, pledging continued support for the scheme as a vital tool for national integration and development.
The governor gave the assurance on Monday while receiving the Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye, during a courtesy visit at the Old Government House in Rayfield, Jos.
Gyang Bere, the Director of Press and Public Affairs to the Executive Governor, in a statement, said Mutfwang described the NYSC scheme as one of Nigeria’s most enduring platforms for fostering unity, social cohesion and mutual understanding among citizens from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
The Governor said the Plateau State Government had continued to create an enabling environment for corps members, particularly graduates in professional fields such as medicine, engineering, architecture and law, to acquire practical experience and contribute to the development of their host communities.
He acknowledged the security challenges affecting some parts of the country but maintained that the scheme remained indispensable to national growth and integration.
“I am a firm believer in the NYSC Scheme as a noble instrument of national integration. Despite existing challenges, it remains a valuable platform for young Nigerians to interact, serve and contribute to nation-building,” he said.
Governor Mutfwang commended the leadership of the NYSC for sustaining the programme despite resource constraints, noting that corps members continue to play a crucial role in addressing manpower shortages in critical sectors, especially healthcare and education.
Drawing from his experience as a former local government chairman, the governor recalled recruiting corps doctors and other professionals who provided services across 84 primary healthcare centres, significantly improving access to medical care in rural communities.
He also paid tribute to former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, founder of the NYSC scheme and an illustrious son of Plateau State, for his contributions to national unity and development.
Mutfwang further pledged to complete the permanent NYSC orientation camp in Mangu Local Government Area as part of efforts to strengthen the scheme’s operations in the state.
Earlier, the NYSC Director-General expressed appreciation to the Plateau State Government for its continued support and commitment to the welfare and security of corps members.
Oluseye assured the governor of the scheme’s readiness to sustain its partnership with the state in promoting peace, national unity and development.
The NYSC chief, who noted that Plateau State holds a special place in his career, having begun his military service in the state, described it as his second home.
He pledged to continue working towards improving the welfare of corps members and enhancing the effectiveness of the scheme nationwide despite prevailing resource challenges.
According to him, the core values of the NYSC, national integration, peaceful coexistence, unity and selfless service, will remain central to the organization’s mandate and operations.
