NYSC: Compelling Case for Orientation Camps

By Adejumoke Alebiosu

The Orientation Camp: The necessary arrangements for a successful registration and camp experience must have been put in place by the NYSC authorities before the arrival of the corps members. Different registration points are organize to take you through the various stages of registration and during which corps members are expected to corporate with the registration officials and to be patient with the process. The NYSC officials are there to guide and direct you on anything you may not understand and to train you. So, whenever you are confused about anything, feel free to ask them any question you may want to ask.

Consider the camp a small town as all the facilities you will need is made available there. When you need to buy anything, you visit the mini market. When things begin to get a little daisy with your health, there is a clinic available for you to visit. There is provision of accommodation, bed/mattresses, food, water and kitting for corps members. And, just in passing, those facilities are also at the disposal of the officials to use.

Things to note about registration: During the registration process, the following documents will be requested from you by the registration officials:

Your call-up letter (please do not laminate this document), Your last institutions ID card, Original certificates/statement of result, When the above mentioned document has been screened, the following will be given to you:, State code number (just for you and not to be shared), A meal ticket (or meal card), A file in which you can put all your credentials

Registration of your name in what is referred to as the “Book Of Life”

The NYSC officials will supervise you in filling of the series of NYSC forms.

Specifically, the NYSC says participants must be careful to read every instruction in every form, booklet or handout given to you before filling them. This is not a product privacy policy that you have no choice but to accept. Preferably, use capital letters in filling your forms for legibility purpose and make sure the information you provide on your forms are correct so they don’t contradict each other. All addresses provided must contain the house number, name of street, town name and possibly the post office number.

Also try and display some level of maturity and self-component by waiting for your turn to get anything. What I’m saying in essence is queue up, please don’t scramble for anything.

Concerning meal tickets or what is called item 7 the NYSC states thus: Immediately after you are cleared from the screening point, you’ll be given your meal ticket. This ticket will allow feed during your stay at the orientation camp alone and not outside. Take good care of it as you may not eat from the camp if it gets missing and neither can you get from someone else to eat as this card is not transferable and replaceable.

Concerning accommodation on camp: Every corps member is given a mattress and a place after they have completed their registration, hence the need to arrive on time. No one is permitted to use two mattresses or move his/her mattress to another room neither use up to two bed spaces. No one is also allowed to call in for room services because of the risks involved as regarding your valuables. Everywhere should be kept as clean as possible, the rooms and rest rooms (toilet).

 

Concerning Orientation Broadcasting Services (OBS): This is a service that disseminates information throughout the camp. This enhances the quick and easy flow of information and this service is managed by the public relations committee. Corps members that possess the skill in or loves engineering and broadcasting are chosen to join the OBS committee.

Concerning Religious Activities at Orientation Camps: Religious activities on camp are conducted according to the guidelines contained in the constitution. Therefore, based on that, the NYSC acknowledges Sundays for Christian worship and Fridays for the Muslims and nothing more. This makes it obvious that no other program is paramount in the orientation camp than the camp activities.

Lectures/Language Studies: Lectures on camp are meant to equip corps members with the adequate knowledge needed for the mission ahead, hence, it is mandatory. Giving your time for the several lectures is never a waste of time as the lectures are always enriched with the necessary information you need.

In addition to the lectures, language studies are organized to equip corps members with the basics of the language of the host state to enhance their communication with the residents of the state after their orientation camp courses.

Concerning Discipline/Security: Priority is placed on discipline, hence the existence of the military on camp. Therefore, every corps member is to conduct his/herself in the best possible manner and by this, we mean stick to the rules. Any corps member who trespasses any rule and is caught will be disciplined as decided by the Orientation Camp Court. Nothing should be done without due permission from the appropriate authorities. Also, everyone is expected to be security conscious and report any doubtful act or movement to the police or any official on camp.

Most importantly, corps members should try as much as possible to be kitted accordingly, for examples, endeavour to the kitting for parade to parade, and that for other programme to such programme.

Concerning Medical Services: All medical cases are being handled by the camp clinic which runs for 24 hours during the orientation exercise and all treatment are administered for free. The clinic is managed by professional medical practitioners.

Accounts Department/Corps Allowances: The account department takes care of coppers allowances. Allowances given on camp include:

Transport allowance (this is paid on arrival at the camp)

Local transport also known as bicycle allowance

Monthly allowance: this is the last allowance given to corps members at the end of their orientation course.

Corps members continue to receive monthly receive their monthly allowance after the orientation camp, but this is granted to them after they have been duly cleared by their employer at the end of every month and issued a clearance. Any corps member who is not cleared will have to forfeit his allowance for that month

The public relations officer issues every corps members on completion of their registration at arrival at camp with the NYSC identity card. This card is legal and not transferable. The NYSC Store Officer also gives the NYSC kit items to corps members. The kit items are to be worn only by registered corps members and these items are: Plain vests

1 Youth Corps cap

1 Khaki shirt and a trouser

1 Youth Corps belt

1 pair of jungle boots

2 P.E. shorts

1 vest with NYSC emblem

1 pair of white canvas shoes

2 pairs of stockings

Once the kit is given, all mode of dressing should be done accordingly for easy identification of corps members and outsiders for security purpose.

Camp activities: Camp activities are carried out with discipline to time and rules and every corps member is expected to comply for a smooth and successful orientation camp experience. Some of the activities are: Military parade/drills

Man O War activities

Lectures

Social activities

Endurance trek

As earlier said, the orientation camp operates with a lot of rules of which some are:

Also, Cultism is a taboo on camp. It is highly prohibited and drug addiction has no place at the camp. Stealing is an abomination on camp. Do not attempt it.

Rioting/demonstration and the likes are not part of paramilitary

Group meetings are not allowed on camp

Rape is a serious crime against humanity

Fighting on camp attracts severe penalty

Taking double ration of food makes one liable for surcharge

Flippancy and unguarded utterances attract severe punishment

Ensure that you participate in all camp activities

Avoid rumour mongering, always seek information at the appropriate quarters.

Be prudent in spending. Remember you will settle down for your primary assignment.

Smoking/chewing of gum are not allowed on parade

Always observe the lights-out instruction

Discipline is the watchword in NYSC

All activities on the camping program are designed for your own good; so comply.

A careful perusal of the above loaded etiquette of the NYSC’S camps and the comprehensive scheme of work in application during camping, it is therefore compelling that Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu should aim at delivering a state of the arts FACILITIES as a permanent NYSC’S orientation Camp and I can assure him if no one does, this writer who is also a political and media strategist, will campaign for his re-election freely as soon as the permanent camp is built and delivered.

It can be done before the governorship primary election this year.