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President’s NYSC Honour Award Selection Committee Inaugurated

Published

6 months ago

March 12, 2024

Joel Ajayi

The National Youth Service Corps on Tuesday inaugurated the newly reconstituted Presidents Honours Award Selection Committee to select and submit names of deserving and the best corps members for the President’s National (NYSC) Honours Award.

The President’s NYSC Honours Award was instituted in 1974 to encourage Corps Members to contribute to national development by embarking on CDS among other activities.

Inaugurating the committee on Tuesday in Abuja, the National Youth Service Corps NYSC, Director-General, Maj.-Gen. YD Ahmed charged them to approach the process dispassionately and improve on standards already set.

According to him, the award is to serve as motivation for hard work and reward for excellence among the Corps Members Since its commencement, one thousand four hundred and twenty-six (1426) Ex-Corps Members have so far received the Award, which is usually conferred by the President.

“The selection process is based on the assessment of Corps Members performance in all the major programs of the NYSC, namely Orientation Course; Primary Assignment; Community Development Service, as well as Winding-Up and Passing-Out activities.

“In addition, other personal qualities such as a sense of duty, drive, determination, initiative, resourcefulness, leadership traits, discipline, and teamwork are considered.

“Usually, the best of the NYSC State Honours Award winners are nominated for consideration for the Presidential award. Therefore, the selection of final winners from the State nominees precedes every successful President’s NYSC Honours Award Ceremony.

“There is no gainsaying the fact that the integrity of the selection process will determine the public acceptance of the eventual winners. On this premise, and given the caliber of personalities on this committee, I am confident that the outcomes of the impending screening and selection exercise will be credible.

“We also look forward to suggestions that will assist in improving the process. With the caliber of personalities on the Committee, I do not doubt that you will deliver on this important mandate.” He assured.

In his opening address the Director, of Corps Welfare/Health Services, Mr. AF Omotade pledged to the national assignment with all the seriousness it deserves.

“As part of deliberate efforts to ensure merit, objectivity, and thoroughness in the selection process, always draw the membership of the National Selection Committee, from relevant institutions, Agencies, and from among other stakeholders that assist the NYSC in its program implementation.

“Therefore, the credibility and integrity of the process are germane and cannot be overstressed. Looking at an assemblage of distinguished personalities that are being saddled with this onerous task, I am convinced that the outcome of this exercise will be profound, credible, and acceptable.”

Speaking further, he said: “Besides, this Committee will be dealing with a backlog of arrears occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic which disrupted normal NYSC operations in 2020 and most of 2021.

“Our major assignment will be a consideration and selection of nominees from 2020 Batches ‘A’ and ‘B’, 2021 Batches ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’, and 2022 Batches ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ service years.”

In her remark, the Chairman, of the NYSC Honours Award National Selection Committee and vice-chancellor, of the University of Benin, Professor Lilian Imuetinyan Salami commended NYSC for its tremendous achievements in grooming youths for leadership roles.

She promised objectivity, fairness, and integrity while discharging their official mandate; “We are major stakeholders and I want to assure all Nigeria that we are going to put integrity in the forefront, we will not sub-change any grandaunts, we will put our best to ensure those who are worthy to be celebrated will celebrate.”

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Nigeria Will Take Good Shape In No Distant Time- Olawande

Published

6 hours ago

September 16, 2024

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande has urged the citizens of the country to be patient with the Administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in transforming the lives of its citizens through various policies and programs of the federal government.

The Minister made this submission while delivering his speech at the Joint Union Negotiating Council’s week of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development branch. This is the first edition since both Ministries of Youth and Sports had been damaged. The JUNC week which was held at Atiku Hall, Office of Head of Civil Service of the Federation in Abuja had its theme: “The working people in a volatile, uncertain, and complex economy”

In the words of the Honourable Minister: “I urge you to be patient with this administration. In no distant time, the country will take good shape and the lives of its citizens will be transformed”.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not a pauper, he is an acknowledged epitome of wealth, and so it cannot be said of him that he desires to loot the treasury of Nigeria. He has seen money and as a result of this, he is not interested in looting the nation’s treasury”, Olawande explained.

He emphasized that “leadership is all about being committed to serve. If you are a Minister now, tomorrow you will be addressed as a former Minister, likewise a Director because there is no permanent position but the impact that you made while in that office will speak after you”, the Minister reiterated.

Olawande expressed his gratitude to the workers of the Ministry for being supportive of the government policies and programs. He promised that the welfare of the staff would not be compromised, adding that workers deserve remuneration for being hardworking.

Earlier in his address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Olubunmi Olusanya admonished the staff of the Ministry to put in their best as “Performance Management System” which replaces APER is the criteria to be used for promotion effective next year. This, according to him is because the Performance Management System (PMS) records the best efforts and input of each staff which will in turn be used to grade such staff.

Olusanya who disclosed that the welfare of the staff is his priority as workers deserve the best for the services rendered. He opined that “the hungry man is angry and as a worker, if you are not treated fairly and properly, it is impossible to get the best out of you. As a result, all staff will be treated properly as motivation to propel the best in you”, he concluded.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Esther Didi Walson-Jack, OON, MNI, in her address, informed that the activity to reinvigorate the Civil Service in a bid to ensure that Civil Servants carry out their duties with much diligence to have efficient and incorruptible civil service is currently on course. She advised workers to wake up and be committed to the service of the nation.

In his closing remarks, Mr. Jerry Akume, the General Secretary of the Union expressed his delight in celebrating this year’s edition of the Union week, while highlighting the achievements of the union so far. These include:

Upward review of staff welfare, prompt payment of repatriation allowances, payment of first 28 days allowance, assistance to the sick, general training of staff, and sending forth/retirement package for retired staff.

He also appealed to the Management of the Ministry, saying that irrespective of the aforementioned achievements, a lot still needs to be done in such areas as procurement of staff buses, upward review of welfare payment for festive periods, consistent general staff training, and procurement of office and work materials.

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