NYSC Members in FCT Protest Over Non-payment of 6 Months’ Allowances
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)
members serving in Kuje Area Council on Monday staged a protest over the
inability of the council to pay six months allowances owed them.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports
that the corps members, numbering about 60, barricaded the entrance of
the council secretariat displying placards on which were scripted “pay
us our six months allowances; we are hungry and starving.”
Edna Akpan, the leader
of the corp members, told NAN that they had earlier written to the Kuje
Area Council authorities demanding that their allowances be paid but the
issue was not given the desired attention.
“We have not been paid for over six
months and we don’t have good mattresses at the Corpers’ Lodge; we are
starving in this place.
“Other corps members that served in this
area council were not owed; it’s surprising that we are witnessing such
during our time.
“The reason why we embarked on this peaceful demonstration is to show our grievances over the matter.”
Reacting to the development, the Chairman of council, Shaban Tete,
told NAN that the council
administration, together with the NYSC
Coordinator, would hold a roundtable discussion to resolve the issue.
Tete said the inability to pay the corps members was due to the reduction in the councils’ allocation.
He, however, said that the council would ensure ensure that the corps member were paid their allowances.
“The councilors have not been paid their
imprest and some allowances for over eight months because we have a
shortfall in our allocation.
“Even in my office, we are entitled to
some allowances but they are no longer available because we no longer
get security vote in the area council,’’ the Chairman said.
Photo Credit: NAN-PHOTO
