The Nigerian Senate passes NYSC trust fund bill

NYSC Enugu Batch B' members attending Internship Programme by Federal Government

The Nigerian Senate has finally passed the NYSC trust fund bill, which was earlier sponsored by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Adeyemi Adaramodu, the senator representing Ekiti South. The NYSC trust fund bill is supposed to enable access to funds for the NYSC members and support skill acquisition programmes.

Senator Adeyemi Adaramodu, has repeatedly promised that “as corps members pursue initiatives provided by this bill, this bill will equip Corps members with skills that can enhance two fronts, employability as well as entrepreneurial abilities,” he said.

As unemployment continues to rise, the government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been sourcing diverse means to empower youths both in the NYSC programme and those outside the programme. Before now, Nigerians have always complained that since the establishment of the programme in 1973, there has never been a time that the country has truly benefited from the programme.

Speaking with journalists, Senator Adaramodu said, corps members with necessary skills acquired under the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) Programmes, can access loans from the Trust Fund to establish small-scale businesses based on the skills they’ve acquired during service.

Nigerians are however worried that just like previous poverty elevation programs and social interventions programmes such as National Youth Investment Fund (NYIF), N-POWER, N-TECH, N-AGRO, FINTECH, FARMERMONI, TRADERMONI, MARKETMONI, Digital Youth Nigeria programme, Mobile Service Repair Training, Graduate Internship Scheme, and Youth Entrepreneurship Support programme, the NYSC Trust Fund might end up being abused.

Senator Adeyemi Adaramodu in a bid to reassure Nigerians that this is different, expressed hope that this Trust Fund programme would not be subjected to abuse like the others. Adaramodu made it clear that there are going to be checks and balances so that young adults in the 36 states and the FCT can acquire funds for either starting a business venture or boosting an existing one.

 

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Godwin Fafemi Uche

Godwin Fafemi Uche is the co-founder and C.E.O of HighJobLink Limited. Uche is also the Chairman of The Highfocuz Group, parent company of HighJobLink Limited, High RealEstate Limited, HighQ LLC and High LogisticsLink Limited.