The National Youth Service Corps has sought synergy with the Federal Road Safety Corps to ensure the safety of corps members during and after the festive season. The State Coordinator, NYSC Oyo State, Eniola Ambekemo made the request on Friday when she paid a visit to the Sector Commander, FRSC Oyo State Command, Mrs Uche Winifred Chukwurah at the Command Headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan.
Ambekemo who said that the NYSC scheme and the FRSC have enjoyed a cordial relationship over the years said the visit was to harmonise with the Oyo State Command of the FRSC towards actualising the objectives of the campaign against road traffic accident recently launched by the management of the NYSC scheme in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps.
Responding, the Sector Commander, FRSC Oyo State Command, Mrs Uche Winifred Chukwurah, pledged the command’s continued support for the NYSC and corps members in Oyo state. Chukwurah assured that the FRSC would be an eye for the NYSC scheme in its bid to ensure the safety of Corps members, whom she described as the pride of the nation. She, however, pleaded with the NYSC Coordinator to encourage the corps members to wear their uniform while travelling for easy identification.
The Sector Commander also promised to facilitate a meeting between the Command, NYSC and independent transporters domicile in Oyo State where issues of subsidized transport fare for corps members would be addressed.
It would be recalled that the Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim recently met with the Corps Marshall of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi and the stakeholders of the National Union of Road Transport Workers where he solicited their support to ensure the safety of corps members across the nation.
In a related development, the State Coordinator, Eniola Ambekemo held a meeting with the members of the Road Transport Union in Iseyin where she intimated them with the directive of the Director-General, NYSC, Brig. Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim concerning the safety of Corps members. Members of the union were led to the meeting by the chairman of the Owonikoko branch, Mr. Wasiu A.
The State Coordinator negotiated a reduced rate in transport fare for Corps members especially on the last day at camp and during the yuletide period. She equally requested that the union should make sure that good and well functioning vehicles were brought to the camp to convey the Corps members to their various destinations, while also insisting that they make sure responsible drivers were assigned to the task.
Very importantly, Ambekemo informed them that the D-G NYSC has passed a directive that Corps members should not be allowed to board any vehicle at the park anytime from 6:00pm. This is with the intention of reducing the number of deaths of Corps members through road crashes.
The union pledged their support and assured the State Coordinator that they would step down the discussion at the meeting to their members at the different parks in Iseyin.
