NYSC To Ensure Strict Compliance With COVID-19 Protocols
By Frank Ikpefan, Abuja
The National Youth Service Corps has directed all its State Coordinators, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to ensure strict compliance with COVID-19 Prevention and Safety Protocols ahead of camp reopening next week Tuesday.
The scheme will continue its three weeks orientation programme for Batch “B” Stream II on 19th of January 2021 amidst increase in COVID – 19 cases.
Nigeria is among several countries battling the second wave of the virus.
The NYSC said Prospective Corps Members and camp officials will be subjected to COVID-19 tests as pre-condition for entry into the orientation camps nationwide.
Director-General of the NYSC, Brig – Gen, Shuaibu Ibrahim, disclosed this after a meeting with top management and officials of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Monday in Abuja.
In a statement by the Director of Press and Public Relations, NYSC, Mrs. Adenike Adeyemi, the DG commended the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and the NCDC for recommending the safe re-opening of the orientation camps nationwide.
Ibrahim noted that corps members are critical change agents in our national development agenda as their potentials will continue to be effectively harnessed in the health, education and other vital sectors of the national economy.
The statement reads: “Necessary facilities that will enhance compliance with COVID-19 prevention and safety protocols have been provided in the camps while Prospective Corps Members and camp officials will all be subjected to COVID-19 tests as pre-condition for entry into the Orientation Camps.”
Ibrahim said Corps Vanguards and enforcement teams have been constituted for all the camps, as a measure to ensure strict compliance, as well as support the national response efforts in stemming the tide of the new wave of the Pandemic.
The NCDC team led by Dr. Oyeladun Okunromade in their various presentations during the meeting described the NYSC’s response to COVID-19 pandemic as a functional model, currently being considered for replication in other sectors to enhance community testing, thus, safeguarding the health of the nation.
Dr. Okunromade expressed satisfaction with the facilities put in place to enhance compliance with the COVID-19 prevention and safety protocols in the previous Orientation programmes, and called for increased vigilance and cooperation to consolidate the success already recorded for subsequent orientation exercises.
