Sanwo-Olu Tasks Corps Members On Transparency In Electoral Engagements

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has enjoined National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members to live above board and be transparent in their engagements in electoral process.

Governor Sanwo-Olu stated this yesterday when he received members of NYSC National Governing Board led by its chairman, Ambassador Fatima Balla Abubakar, who came on a courtesy visit to his office at the State House, Marina.

The governor who received them in company with the deputy governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, and special adviser on Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Mr. Mobolaji Ogunlende, said the state’s support to the scheme was to enable corps members to reflect high sense of commitment and responsibility in discharging assignments handed to them in the course of the service year.

Governor Sanwo-Olu said Lagos approved monthly stipends for corps members that were three times higher than what other states pay because of the need to make them comfortable and enable them contribute their efforts towards development.

He said: “As a responsible government, we understand how critical the contributions of corps members are to accelerate development in communities across the state. Beyond being graduates serving their country, they are also the leaders we will be passing the baton of leadership to in the not too distant future. As such, we see corps members as part of those we need to help develop and take their comfort as our responsibilities.

NYSC National Governing Board boss, Ambassador Abubakar, said Lagos remained the only state across the federation supporting the scheme with quarterly subvention to keep activities going.

She said: “We are aware of what the State Government has been doing for NYSC in Lagos. We have found out that Lagos is one of the friendliest states to the scheme. Our state coordinator has full access to all government stakeholders, which is the reason the scheme is being run smoothly in Lagos.”