Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, on Thursday said that the ‘Change Begins With Me’ programme launched by the Federal Government was aimed at restoring national values and upholding every right thing.
Osinbajo, represented by Chief Kenneth Kobani, Secretary to the Rivers Government, made the assertion at the swearing-in ceremony of NYSC Batch ‘A’ Corps members in Nonwa-Gbam, Tai Local Government Area of the state.
He urged the corps members to imbibe whatever that the campaign entails.
“This campaign is aimed at restoring national values and upholding all that is right, through each and every one of us. You must strive to fight the painful erosion of our social values as a result of greed and dishonesty.
“If change begins with each of you, there can be nothing that will impede the progress of this great nation,” he said.
Osinbajo urged the corps members to consider themselves as agents of change and actively live and promote it.
“This nation depends on your labours, in no small way, and it is a great responsibility that you all bear, “he added.
The Acting President said that the federal government was aware of the challenges facing the NYSC scheme and its duty to mitigate the issues, including security, development management and processes.
He stated that the government would continue to encourage continued cooperation between the federal, state and local governments to ensure the smooth and effective execution of the scheme.
Osinbajo reiterated that existing government policy did not allow corps members posted to government ministries and agencies to be rejected.
Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike, also represented by the SSG, Kobani, said that the state government had approved all the requests made by NYSC.
Wike urged the newly deployed corps members to be disciplined, loyal, dedicated and committed to the ideals of the scheme.
Earlier, Omotayo Adewoye, NYSC Rivers Coordinator,appealed to the state government to resuscitate payment of state allowance to serving Corps members.
He pleaded with the government for enhanced water supply, befitting state secretariat complex and utility vehicles for proper monitoring and inspection of corps members in their various places of primary assignments.
According to Adewoye, 2439 prospective corps members have been registered for the 2017 Batch ‘A’ service year, of which 1096 and 1343 were males and females respectively.
