By Straightnews
Open Forum Care for Humanity Foundation has called on both the State and Federal Governments to offer automatic employment to eight former members of the National Youth Service Corps who were recently released by kidnappers.
The affected NYSC members who were abducted in Zamfara State on August 17, 2023, while they were heading to Sokoto State for the mandatory one-year national service year, have been reunited with their families in Akwa Ibom.
Addressing a press conference held at Open Forum Centre, Uyo on Wednesday, October 16, the President and Founder of the Open Forum Care, Matthew Koffi Okono, said such an appeal was necessary to ease their post-traumatic experience.
Related news: We stayed for three weeks without food and water – Freed NYSC abductee
Okono, however, commended President Bola Tinubu, Governor Umo Eno and the NYSC for their role in securing the release of the abductees and called on the Akwa Ibom State Government to formally receive the rescued graduates and offer them automatic employment in the state civil service.
“We want to use this opportunity to thank the President, Bola Tinubu, and our governor and indeed the DG of NYSC for the part they played in the release of the Corp members and to appeal to both the federal and Akwa Ibom State government to offer automatic employment to ease their post-traumatic experiences,” Okono stated
He advocated reforms in the NYSC scheme, stating, “The Federal Government should look into making the NYSC scheme more pro-development and safer, to add more value to nation-building.”
The conference was attended by some of the affected NYSC members.
The rescued corps members collectively expressed their gratitude to the President, Director-General of NYSC, General Yusha’u Dogara Ahmed, Governor Umo Eno, security operatives, and other well-meaning Nigerians for their efforts in securing their freedom.
They also appealed for employment opportunities and any form of assistance that the State and Federal Governments could extend to help heal their trauma.
