* Say ‘You are a loving and caring father’

Alexander Davis

President Muhammadu Buhari has received serving members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme, who were on a ‘Thank You’ mission over their new allowances at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, FCT.

Reports say the four members representing others across the country visited the Villa Thursday, February 6, to convey their “deepest gratitude” to President Buhari over the recent increase in their monthly allowances from N19,800 to N33,000.

The Corps members were led to the State House by Mr. Sunday Dare, Honourable Minister for Youth and Sports Development, and Brigadier-General Ibrahim Shehu, Director-General of NYSC.

President Buhari, while speaking on welcoming them, described the NYSC scheme as a “laudable one that needs to be sustained as it affords the opportunity for Nigerian youths to understand the country better.”

“People come from far and wide; some from Victoria Island, in Lagos, have not even been to Ikeja.

The President further said, “they now find themselves in Daura (his hometown in Katsina State) and other parts of the country.

“Whenever I go to my town, I get in touch with members; some of them from Lagos, some from Port Harcourt.”

President Buhari as well applauded General Yakubu Gowon (Rtd.) for establishing the scheme during his administration as the Nigerian Head of State.

“Whenever I meet General Gowon up till today, I thank him for initiating the NYSC.

“It is a nationalist and patriotic thinking that led to the development of the scheme.”

Earlier, the visiting Corps members had showered praises on the President.

They said that “the implementation in January, when we least expected it, brought tears of joy to us as we had doubts of the promises earlier made.

“You have demonstrated that you are a loving and caring father committed to the welfare of his children.”

They also reiterated their commitment to doing their best during their period in the scheme.

“The increase is a wake-up call to us to show more commitment to the affairs of our fatherland.

“We are great stakeholders in our collective determination of building a prosperous and united Nigeria, the future belongs to us,” Youth Corps members said.