AKINWALE ABOLUWADE
The Senate Committee on Youth and Community Engagement has disclosed that the National Youths Service Corps Trust Fund Bill would soon take off as part of moves by the Federal Government to engage the graduates productively.
The Bill has scaled first and second readings.
The Committee, led by its Chairman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, gave the indication during its oversight function to the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Iseyin, Oyo State on Saturday.
Adaramodu, while addressing the Batch A Stream 2 corps members on the camp ground, expressed government’s determination to curb the trend of unemployment in the country.
According to him, the new NYSC Trust Fund bill would soon be transmitted to the president for ascent.
The NYSC Trust Fund Bill seeks to fortify corps members under the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Programme at the completion of the service year.
The senator, who represents Ekiti South District in the 10th Senate, explained that the initiative was aimed at upgrading the mandatory national service scheme for graduates to be employable.
Adaramodu stated that the Nigerian Senate Legislative Agenda for year 2024 was geared towards youth development, adding, “The issue of unemployment and what next for corps members after the service year will be a thing of the past soon.
“The bill will ensure that the dreams of every Nigerian graduate become a reality.”
The NYSC Coordinator in Oyo State, Abel Oche, described the Senate Committee members’ visit as a morale booster to the corps members, saying they were hitherto apprehensive of the uncertainty that they might contend with after the one year compulsory national service.
The state Coordinator of NYSC expressed optimism that when signed into law by the President, the NYSC Trust Fund Bill would give bite to fight against unemployment in the country.
