About 138 corps members are facing varied punitive measures in three states of the federation: Sokoto, Abia and Akwa Ibom.

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on Thursday announced the extension of the service year of 68 corps members in Sokoto State by periods ranging from one week to one year.

The state coordinator of the scheme in the state, Mr. Thomas Yamma, announced the extension at the passing out of 1,856 corps members posted to the state under Batch '' C'' of the 2014 service year.

According to Yamma, the action was taken to punish the erring corps members for various offences ranging from absenteeism to indiscipline, among others.

The coordinator also said that three corps members were given the state Honours Award, while two others bagged the Sultan’s Award.

He commended the state government, Sultanate Council of Sokoto and the generality of the people of the state for their sustained support to the scheme.

Gov. Aminu Tambuwal, who also spoke at the occasion, extolled the virtues of the scheme, saying it had become a household name in Nigeria.

Tambuwal urged the corps members to continue to be good ambassadors of the state and the scheme in general.

In Umuahia, the Abia Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mrs. Omotayo Adewoye, said that 43 corps members have pending disciplinary cases against them.

Adewoye said this in her welcome address during the passing out ceremony of the 2014 Batch ‘C’ corps members at the Umuahia Township Stadium.

She said that the affected corps members would serve different forms of punishment, ranging from extension of service to repeat of the service year.

She admonished the corps members to deploy the knowledge they had acquired during their skill acquisition training programme to job creation as ’government could not create all the needed jobs the country.

In his speech, Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu, who was represented by his deputy, Chief Ude Oko-Chukwu, commended the scheme, saying that it had, over the years, made indelible impact in the development of Abia.

“It is my wish that the scheme will continue to add more value to its service to humanity, especially in Abia, in the areas of environmental sustainability, rural health, rural infrastructure development and education.”

He urged the corps members to be committed and positive-minded as they go into the larger society and to open their hearts to take advantage of the opportunities available.

He said that government would continue to initiate and promote opportunities for gainful self-employment, considering the non-existence of white collar jobs.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that eight out of the 3,799 corps members received State Honours Award, in recognition of their outstanding performance during the service year.

In Uyo, Mrs. Ngozi Chukwuka, the state Coordinator of the National of Youth Service Corps (NYSC), disclosed that seven corps members in the 2014 batch ‘C’ are to repeat while 20 got extension of their service year in Akwa Ibom.

Chukwuka made this known during the passing out ceremony in Uyo on Thursday in Uyo.

She said that the seven corps members had absconded from service and would have to repeat before receiving their discharge certificates.

She said that the punitive measure was taken to serve as a warning to corps members to take the service seriously, and as a deterrent to others.

The state coordinator said that the 20 corps members who earned extension of service for offences ranging from absenteeism during head count to poor performance in their primary assignments.

“The extension ranges from one week to two months for minor cases.

“But those who absconded or who have not been around for the past three months will repeat their service.

“There are seven corps members for this 2014 batch ‘C’ in the state; most of them absconded during the service year.”

According to her, the corps members have received adequate training during their service year to contribute their quota to the development of the nation wherever they find themselves.

In his remark, Gov. Udom Emmanuel, who was represented by the Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Mr Monday Uko, urged the corps members to be good ambassadors of the nation.

He advised them to be job creators as the era of white collar jobs was over in the country.

(NAN)

•Photo shows NYSC members.

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