Reps seek increment in NYSC allowances

The House of Representatives on Thursday in Abuja passed for second reading a bill seeking an improved welfare package for members of the National Youth Service Corps. The bill seeks to amend the NYSC Act No 51 of 1993 by making provisions to enhance the welfare of corps members, encourage acquisition of special business and commercial skills at the end of the annual service year. Moshood Mustapha (All Progressives Congress – Kwara), who sponsored the bill, expressed regrets over unemployment and poverty rate bedeviling the country. He said the proposed amendment would encourage self-employment. Section 7(3) of the proposed amendment seeks to increase state governments annual subvention from N500,000 to N50m, to enable NYSC to cater adequately for the welfare and skill acquisition needs of corps members. It said such minimum subvention shall be provided before the commencement of the service year, for which it was intended. Section 18 (2) also seeks to increase minimum accommodation allowance from N250 per month to N5,000 while transport allowance might be increased from N150 per month to N5,000. The sponsor added, “The bill seeks to amend the NYSC Decree 51 of 1993 to provide for the training of corps members to acquire skills and business. “It would enable them to seek other means of sustainable livelihood and fend for themselves other than the white collar jobs that are in acute shortage