The Federal Government, on Monday employed nine ex-corps members who incurred one form of disability or the other in the course of their one year of national service.

 

Letters of employment were also issued to 164 ex-corps members, winners of the 2012, 2013 and 2014 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Presidential Award.

 

Mrs Joan Ayo, Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, issued the letters to the ex-corps members at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

 

The nine ex-corps are beneficiaries of the NYSC Hope Alive Initiative; they are living with different disabilities which they incurred during the one year national service.

 

Ayo explained that the awardees were recognised and issued with employment letters based on merit as each of them distinguished selves in character and learning during their service year.

 

She said they exhibited professionalism and patriotism in the course of their national service, adding that they were dedicated, transparent and accountable in their duties.

 

“We are very proud of you because by your achievements, you have exhibited those core values required in the service.

Your appointment is based on merit. You have individually earned what you are receiving today; this appointment is devoid of political prejudice”, she said.

 

 

The chairman blamed the delay in the issuance of the letters to the transition process from one government to another and commended the awardees for exhibiting maturity and patience.

 

 

Ms Winifred Oyo-Ita, the Head of Service of the Federation, urged the beneficiaries to continue to be of good conduct and behaviour as they enter into the service.

 

 

Brig.-Gen. Johnson Olawumi, the Director-General of NYSC, urged the awardees to be of good behaviour as they were the “mirror” others looked up to.

 

 

He reassured prospective corps members of Federal Government’s assistance and support if they ever incurred any form of disability during their one year of national service.

 

Miss Ijeoma Igheghe, one of the recipients of Hope Alive Initiative, said she sustained injuries on her face, hands and legs when her cooking gas exploded while serving in Imo state in 2013.

 

 

Igheghe, a graduate of Mass Communication, University of Benin, said she thought all hope was lost until the NYSC management introduced an initiative to assist corps members with disability.

 

She said the beneficiaries had earlier received financial support from the NYSC.

 

According to her, Heritage Bank promised to assist them but they are yet to receive anything from them.

 

Mr Adesope Adedeji, one of the recipients of the NYSC Presidential Award, said he distinguished himself by constructing a borehole and evacuating a refuse dump.

 

According to him, he carried out these humanitarian activities in a local community in Adamawa in 2013.

 

He said his efforts earned him the title of Best Youth Corps Member in the state and also recipient of the NYSC Presidential Award.

 

Adedeji, who hails from Oyo State, is a graduate of Medicine and Surgery from University of Ibadan.

 

Ex-corps members who received letters of employment cut across various states covering all the six geo-political zones of the country.

 

They have been employed by the Federal Government to work in various ministries, departments and agencies.
The employment is with immediate effect.

 

 

 

(NAN)