The House of Representatives is preparing to deliberate on a bill that aims to secure a sustainable funding source for the National Youth Service Corps.
The bill, titled “The NYSC Trust Fund (Establishment) Bill 2024,” focuses on training and empowering corps members to enhance their skills and employability.
Sponsored by the representative of Nasarawa/Toro Federal Constituency in Nasarawa State, the proposed legislation was presented on the floor of the House two weeks ago.
An exclusive copy of the bill obtained by The PUNCH, outlines the primary objective: to create a legal structure to manage a special intervention fund that will finance NYSC initiatives related to skills acquisition, training, and corps member empowerment.
According to Section 2(1) of the bill, the fund will “cover all corps, personnel of the NYSC, orientation camps, formations, facilities and the overall improvement and efficiency in the discharge of their duties and responsibilities.”
The proposed Trust Fund will draw its revenue from multiple sources. Specifically, 0.2 percent of the total revenue collected in the Consolidated Revenue Fund will go towards this fund, along with any initial grants and federal special intervention funds to support its goals.
Additional contributions may include international aid, grants from bilateral and multilateral bodies, donations from NGOs and private entities, as well as investments made by the Trust Fund itself.
Other forms of support such as endowments, bequests, or gifts, whether monetary or in the form of property, are also outlined as potential sources.
Section 5(1) of the bill specifies that the funds are to be used for various empowerment initiatives, including “meeting the skill acquisition training and empowerment of corps members; meeting the training and re-training needs of the personnel of the NYSC; enhancement of the skills of corps members for improved proficiency and employment generation, as well as the overall improvement, performance and efficiency in the discharge of constitutional roles and responsibilities.”
Additionally, funds would support the procurement of instructional materials, vehicles, and equipment vital for NYSC operations and expansion of existing ventures, along with the establishment of new ones aimed at corps member training and producing essential supplies for NYSC camps.
The bill also proposes a Board of Trustees to govern the Trust Fund, consisting of a chairman and members from the NYSC National Governing Board, representatives from the Federal Ministries of Youth Development and Finance, and the private sector.
Also on the board would be a representative of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the President of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, with a retired NYSC director serving as secretary.
The board’s mandate includes managing and distributing funds to fulfill the bill’s objectives. Specifically, it will create policies and programs to train and empower both exiting corps members and NYSC personnel.
The board is also tasked with upgrading orientation camps and NYSC offices to meet the program’s evolving needs. Furthermore, the board is granted authority to approve fund disbursements for NYSC projects and other activities that align with the fund’s purpose.
Section 13 (1) of the bill further empowers the board to “award contracts, whether in local or foreign currency in conformity with the due process requirements as provided in any law, rule, guideline or regulation.
”As part of its responsibilities, the board will identify funding needs for NYSC’s various programs, make contractual arrangements for project execution, and oversee all projects financed by the Trust Fund.”
This legal provision aims to ensure transparency and efficiency in the board’s administration of the fund, keeping the NYSC programs on track with the bill’s objectives.
