Yemisi Izuora
The National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, has said that no serving Corps member anywhere in the country is COVID-19 positive.
This clarification is coming after a media report which erroneously claimed that 8 Corps members currently undergoing Orientation Course in Bauchi State NYSC Orientation Camp tested positive to COVID-19.
In a statement the agency said, “Management wishes to posit that at present, no Corps Member undergoing Orientation Course in Bauchi State, or any of the Orientation Camps of the Scheme across the nation is COVID-19 positive.
“It is very pertinent to note that all the prospective Corps Members for the foregoing programme underwent COVID-19 test, conducted by Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), which was a prerequisite condition for admission into any of the 37 camps. Those that tested positive were not admitted into the camps, but were duly referred to the NCDC for treatment and management.
“Therefore, reporting that 8 Corps Members undergoing Orientation Course in Bauchi State tested positive to COVID-19 is very misleading, as there is no COVID-19 positive Corps Member in Bauchi Camp, or any of the NYSC Camps.
“Management hereby restates that it will continue to prioritise the welfare and safety of Corps Members, being a cardinal policy thrust of the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim.
“Management enjoins all Corps Members and Camp officials to remain safe, by always observing COVID-19 safety protocols as issued by the Scheme in collaboration with the NCDC.”