SERVICOM: Tasks NYSC on improving services at orientation camps

                      

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has been called on by the SERVICOM Office  management to improve services at its orientation camps nationwide. Dr Christiana Famro, Chief SERVICOM Officer made the call at the NYSC headquarters when she presented the report of the evaluation of the services of the corps. The SERVICOM Office evaluated seven orientation camps to determine the quality of service delivered to corps members who are the major customers of the service. The camps evaluated are; Kubwa Orientation Camp, Abuja; Lagos orientation Camp, Agege; Katsina Orientation Camp, Katsina and Gombe orientation camp, Malam Sidi. Others are Cross River Orientation Camp , Obubra; Ebonyi Orientation camp, Izzi and Kwara orientation Camp, Yikpata.Dr Famro said the evaluation of the camps gave a composite score of 2-star service to the NYSC which indicates fair services. Among flaws identified in the service delivery of the NYSC are inadequate conveniences and dining facilities; registration bottlenecks and poorly managed clinics. The services according to the report has not set standards for most of its activities and where such standards exist, there are mere formalities and not systematically monitored to ensure compliance. Additionally, the Service would need to develop a customer care policy which would define how officials of the organisation would relate with the corps members. “The registration process should be streamlined to make it more efficient and effective. Information on all the major activities and customer care should be made available to corps members. This would make them fully aware of NYSC obligations towards them” Dr Famro said. She called on the management to ensure that adequate arrangements are made for the accommodation of corps members in all orientation camps, and that, clinics and pharmacies in all camps are adequately stocked with equipment and drugs to meet ailments peculiar to particular areas. In his reaction, the Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier General Maharazu Tsiga observed that it was difficult to deal with youths, adding that the woes of the organisation was made worst by the rising number of corps members and the inability of states governments and other agencies to meet their own part of providing suitable orientation camps and municipal services like electricity and water supply. He assured the SERVICOM Office that the recommendations would be implemented as the NYSC was desirous of improving its services. He said the organisation has already commenced e-registration which would eliminate most of the problems of registration encountered by corps members at the opening of the camps. However, he called on the SERVICOM office to look beyond the problems encountered by corps members in the camp and concentrate on other issues like rejection of corps members by government and private organisation after posting, non provision of accommodation and the need to ensure security of corps members by both the government and the community. Gen. Tsiga said improvement in these areas would impact more on the overall experience of the service year as the orientation camp was only for a few weeks and the corps members spend most of their time in their places of primary assignment.