The Head of Finance in the Etung LGA of Cross River State, John Ogar, has disclosed that they pay several millions of naira to provide accommodations for and transport members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, posted to the council for their mandatory one-year service to the nation.
Ogar disclosed this when he responded to social media commentary by the State Chairman of the Young Progressives Party, YPP, in the state, Anthony Bissong Attah, who challenged that constructing a Corpers’ Lodge now was a misplaced priority.
Attah said, “This so-called corpers’ lodge is for what exactly? What’s the exact assignment of these corpers?
“Why can’t you reassign the corps members to schools or other PPAs where their services are most needed if it’s stressful to accommodate them?
“Over 70 percent of local government staff are redundant, reducing the entire council to a gossip mill and siesta arena.
“The truth of the matter is that we all know that over 90 percent of these corpers are as disposable to the council as most of the statutory staff. That’s why local government councils are often referred to as ‘Ministry of No Work.’”
Ogar retorted, explaining, “It will interest you to know that the corpers’ lodge is not a misplaced priority. Council pays several millions of naira to a private individual, and sometimes we’re dragged to court for nonpayment for a property housing corpers.
“The lodge is for those sent directly to the council. Their colleagues who are sent to schools and elsewhere are taken care of by their respective PPAs, so is it the ones that have been sent to us that we won’t be interested in their comfort?”
Ogar also added that they run shuttle bus services for the corpers to ease their burdens at high costs.
Explaining the reason for the huge expenditure, Ogar said, “So, instead of a pile-up debt or paying so much to just a single individual against the development of the council, why not have a structure to house our corps members and save the council the stress?”
We pay millions to accommodate, convey corpers to work daily – Council official
