The Batch B Stream 2 graduates posted to Edo State for the compulsory one year national service are enduring hunger daily as they wait in vain for their January allowance.
NewsSpecng gathered that the wait has affected the health of those that are not so well-to-do and some have developed ulcers and other health complications.
Those who could not get locals to advance them loans or part with food stuff have had to engage in menial jobs for survival purposes.
“The allowances domiciled with Unity Bank have not been paid and no excuses have been given.” said a corp member in Edo, who spoke to Newspec.
Some of the youths alleged that the allowances have been deposited in the bank for a period of time to earn interest.
“The N33,000 is barely enough for our needs, not to talk of making us wait forever for it. A situation where corpers have to beg the locals for money and materials, food in particular, is demeaning to say the least, and bad for the reputation of the NYSC as an organization,” an affected corp member lamented.
The Corper said the state NYSC Director attested to the fact that payment in the state is always late, as opposed to that in other states and other banks, with them receiving their payment sometimes two weeks ahead of those in Edo State.
” We are in touch with our colleagues in other cities across the country, most of them have good stories to tell, why is our own case different?” the corp member asked rhetorically.
The state Director Mrs Abiodum Olubunkola is said to have received various complaints over the late payment yet the situation remains the same.
Though all efforts to reach Olubukola failed, one Usman, an NYSC Local Government Liaison Officer for Etsako North Local Government said the situation was being addressed.
Usman also denied the allegation that their allowance was being traded with.
He however placed the blame on the door steps of the bank.
He said Corpers have started receiving alerts from yesterday (Sunday), for their January allowance and that the fault is from Unity Bank.
“You shouldn’t even be calling me, it’s the State Accountant you should be speaking with.”
On the allegation of trading with the Corpers’ allowance, Usman debunked it saying when it’s paid in it’s when the bank gives them value that they start receiving alert.
