ZION B-BC   NEWSLETTER.

[ A Publication of the Zion Faith Bible-Believing Church, Kpeyegyi, Abuja Nigeria. ]   { VOL. 2.  NO 57.  14-09-14.}

NYSC OFFICIALLY ADMITTED INTO THE MONEY-MINTING CLUB!

It is high time the NATIONAL YOUTH SERVICE CORPS’ compulsory one-year programme, (of Orientation Courses and Primary Assignments), was conducted ONLINE to avoid students protests over the newly introduced print out fees of FOUR THOUSAND NAIRA!

This option will remove all encumbrances of embarking on annual physical and at times dangerous journeys, backlog of postings and lobbying in respect of States of primary assignments!

 Corps members will contribute positively to programmes of nation building ONLINE on governments’ requests and be meaningfully engaged to earn living wages through such mutual contracts.

Unlike what obtains presently, the weekly Community Development Service [CDS], the only primary assignment, has been reduced to talk-shops and subsequently a total waste of another calendar year of the youths – most of whom had spent more than six academic years due to staff/student crisis!

ADVERT: NYSC 2014 BATCH ‘C’, has ordered online registration of local and foreign-trained Nigerian prospective corps members and printing of call-up letters, on payment of a compulsory N4000.00 fee!

“The management of NYSC wishes to inform the general public and Nigerian graduates (both foreign and locally trained in particular, that with effect from 2014 Batch ‘C’ mobilisation exercise, mobilisation processes will be online at www.nysc.org.ng or portal.nysc.gov.ng or www.nysc.gov.ng to link the portal.

*Those who wish to get their call-up numbers by SMS/e-mail and subsequently print their  call-up letters online are to pay the sum of (N4000.000), using any bank’s Automated Teller Machine(ATM) Cards on the PIN Vending option from any bank in Nigeria.”

This ADVERT, which jolted indigent students, parents/guardians who might not anticipate unbudgeted expenses also stated as follows:

 “However, those who wish to collect their call-up letters from their institutions, NEED NOT PAY THE N4000.000, AFTER THE ONLINE REGISTRATION (for 2014); BUT IT BECOMES COMPULSORY WITH EFFECT FROM 2015 Batch ‘A’!

 Registration for 2014 Batch ‘C’ Service began on 20^th August and ends on 12^th October 2014.

It is very clear that online communications between intending corps members and NYSC management staff had been an established practice since the advent of modern technology; the only aspect that is new is the clandestine introduction of the print-out fee of Four Thousand Nigerian Naira, which is a lot of money to a lot of UPRIGHT people!

 Graduates have never complained of collecting call-up letters from their various institutions and from all indications, some clever persons were only eager to make “SOME ILLEGITIMATE MONEY”, before this administration packs up and disappears; after all, the MINISTER of Internal Affairs “DID IT” ONLINE on  behalf of the Immigration Department, with the support of some CONSULTANTS, raked in over N45million and got away with the amount, in spite of about 19 DEATHS in various Stadia across Nigeria where mock interviews were held!

Before now, there was a massive call for the scrapping of the NYSC Scheme for non- deliverance of dividends of democracy to the YOUTHS WHO MAKE UP over 60 per cent of Nigeria’s population of about 170million people.

We appreciate the fact that this POST-WAR SCHEME INITIATIVE was well-intentioned by the Military administration of General Yakubu Gowon, who believed in the corporate existence and unity of Nigeria, but the programme had long lost its ideology, intention and focus because of the unresolved issues of CITIZENSHIP, INDEGENESHIP “SETTLERS” and at times RELIGION, which had claimed precious lives of Nigerians, including corps members, who were virtually forced to untimely deaths under the guise of the patriotic zeal to serve their Fatherland!

Since the inception of the scheme in 1973, corps members had been posted to States other than theirs to engender cultural/traditional affinity for national unity and integration.

In the past 41 years of this programme, our young graduates dwelt with other tribes of different social and family background to learn the culture of the indigenes in their areas of postings and primary assignments during the SERVICE YEAR, but it is very sad to say that Nigerians have gained virtually nothing from the laudable initiative!

The outcome of the recently concluded NATIONAL CONFERENCE, comprising  ALUMNI DELEGATES of several NYSC SCHEMES and which has polarized citizens along indigenes/settlers divide and creation of more States from existing towns and villages, is a good reference point!

Nigerian Youths are not being positioned to take over the mantle of leadership at any point in time due to unfavourable government policies on education in respect of critical  infrastructures and academic staff union welfare, which keep them “studying”  for almost THREE DECADES of their life!

According to government, the NYSC Scheme should create “entry level jobs” for participants, including a FORUM, dedicated as an avenue to share job information, career opportunities /resources and sourcing of loan from the National Directorate of Employment [NDE].

Nigerians are all witnesses to the ongoing very serious insecurity situation which has bedevilled the nation through youth restiveness, militancy, brigandage, armed robberies, kidnappings/abductions, insurgency and terrorism, being perpetrated mostly by the YOUTHS!

The Word of God says: “Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it.”[Proverbs. 22:6]. Moral and spiritual lessons MUST go hand-in-hand to dedicate a child on the right path of life while instructions and discipline should also be involved to direct the child on the way to Godly wisdom.

In his four-point agenda, the new military Director General [DG] of the NYSC states that he would “improve service content, enhance welfare and safety, expand partnership of scheme with critical stakeholders for greater impact funding and support.

Should we be surprised if the funding must come from corps members who would remain idle and unemployed for a COMPULSORY SERVICE YEAR?

It is a common phenomenon in Nigeria for job seekers to pay non-refundable thousands of naira to purchase Forms online for uncertain ‘employment opportunities’!

As at Saturday, 13^th September, 2014, unemployment statistics of able-bodied and employable Nigerians, according to the National Bureau of Statistics of Nigeria, stood at 23.90 per cent compared to a record low of 5.30per cent in 2006! The unemployment challenge stands out as one of the most critical problems facing Nigeria as a nation even as a Presidential Job Board [PJB], was inaugurated last week with much publicity, to rescue the situation.

 We will watch very closely for miracles, because thousands of graduates would soon be released from NYSC Camps into the Labour Market. The present administration is very good at running government policies on Radio, Television and Print Media, but we will not be distracted from identifying smoke screens!

There is a daily Federal Government Radio jingle of job advertisement for 50.000 graduates through SURE-P, [Subsidy Re-investment Programme], which by now must have gulp millions of naira as publicity charges and which in actual fact, has not identified job opportunities for the teeming graduates, because our governments are insincere!

Titled, “Sure-P Graduate Intention Scheme”, the jingle encourages private sector employers to identify the job seekers professional skills and mentor them while GOVERNMENT PAYS THEM MONTHLY ALLOWANCES!

Let us assume that private sector investors actually identified these graduates and commenced mentorship, would the monthly allowances replace the LIVING WAGES promised by successive governments to NIGERIAN YOUTHS during political campaign rallies to curry their votes?

 THE NYSC SCHEME HAS OUTLIVED ITS USEFULLNESS AND SHOULD BE SCRAPPED WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY!

We challenge government to publish, for public consumption, the 41-YEAR SCORECARD of this establishment which has only served as a CONDUIT PIPE OF ORGANISED CORRUPTION JUST LIKE THE INFAMOUS FOUR TOWERS ENTERPRISE IN ABUJA!

*From 1973-2014, has NYSC Management team ever arranged or provided transportation by AIR, LAND or SEA for corps members to ease definite challenges they might face in travelling to places of primary assignments across the length and breadth of the country?

*Are any allowances appropriated for transportation, accommodation general welfare or medical expenses throughout the service year?

*Were there any manner of security arrangements provided, when many corps members were murdered in cold blood during past communal and political crisis across the nation?

*Is the monthly stipend of N19.500.00  out-of-pocket allowance adequate for  graduates who are academically equipped to contribute meaningfully to the economic growth of this nation?

* Is this paltry sum, commensurate to adequately identify, qualify and appreciate INTELECTUAL PROPERTY AND CAPACITY?

*Are the “Consultants” engaged by the management team for sundry contracts more qualified than the corps members?

*What manner of welfare was the DG talking about in his four-point agenda?

*And whereas annual government-sponsored jamboree of religious pilgrimages “swallow” billions of naira of taxpayer funds without challenge!

Corrupt officials in government MUST be exposed if this administration is serious about its “fight against corrupt civil servants and politicians”! It tantamount to sheer injustice and man’s inhumanity to man, for those in temporary position of authority, to continue to LIVE ON THE BLOOD AND SWEAT OF THEIR FUTURE LEADERS!

That kind of bestial behaviour is only found in the ANIMAL KINGDOM OF PREDATORS! 

LET EVERYONE BE READY TO GIVE ACCOUNT OF HIS/HER STEWARDSHIP BEFORE GOD, FOR THE TIME IS SHORT, SAYS THE LORD OF HOST!

 CONTRACT SCAMS, STEALING AND OUTRIGHT EMBEZZLEMENT OF TAXPAYERS FUNDS ARE NOT NEW IN THE NYSC!

 Going down the memory lane of the late seventies and early eighties, the NYSC was notorious for unbridled financial crimes through which many members of staff and emergency contractors became instant millionaires until a probe was instituted to stem the very ugly scenario! HAS THE STORY CHANGED? WE NEED AN ANSWER!

 If you have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour, don’t miss this great opportunity as you pray this prayer:      

Lord Jesus; I confess that I am a sinner who needs to be saved through the grace of the New Testament of your Blood, shed on the Cross at Calvary; I renounce every sin in my life and accept you as my Lord and Saviour. Please forgive me and write my name in the Book of Life. Amen.

If you prayed this prayer, you have been admitted into the family of sons and daughters of God, who are born-again. Congratulations.  Please look forward to more divine revelation in the next edition of Zion B-BC Newsletter as you share this with friends and remain blessed in the Lord.

[For weekly access,to this newsletter, log on to:                                                              facebook.com/zionfaithbible.believingchurch or http://www.zfbbc1.blogspot.comhttps://www.google.com/+zionfaithbiblebelievingchurch . I am, Yours sincerely,Dr. David B.A. Olufon, Resident Pastor and Editor.08058436756 08098194390.g-mail- dvdolufon@gmail.com .]