Fear grips NYSC 2013 batch C members over place of primary assignment (PPA) posting

The NYSC 2013 Batch C members entered each of the various NYSC orientation camps spread across the country on the 5^th of this month, and as the saying goes that anything that has beginning must surely have an end. In less than 4hrs from now corps members that participated in the orientation program will be bidding farewell to their camps, as today being the 26^th of November marks the end of the supposedly three weeks of the orientation program.

No doubt that at this moment that the corps members have participated and endured the gruelling military tasks and training that characterized the entire process. In addition to that, they also must have participated in other various camp activities which includes be not only drama presentations, sporting activities, skill acquisition training, boring and exciting lectures, “mammy market visitation” etc.

But this point in time the entire corps members in camp should be packing up their belongings as they all prepares to exit the camp today to report to their places of primary assignments. One might say that camp activities tension has been doused but another tension has arisen, which is the ultimate fear of the unknown for corps member; fear of place of primary assignment posting.

This is because any moment from now they will all be receiving their posting letters and will be sent out just the way Jesus sent out his disciples in groups to both unknown and known destinations to go and complete the second and third phases of the NYSC program (PPA and community development services)

I just spoke with a friend now that is currently in one the camps somewhere in Ondo state, and he told me that the atmosphere in camp right now is quite tensed and that many of them are gripped with fears concerning PPA posting. He went further to tell me that most of the discussion right now at every corners of the camp centres on their unknown fate on where they will love to be heading to if they  depart the camp for their PPA in no time.

No doubt that some of the corps members will be heading to some very remote areas of the state while some that consider themselves lucky will be posted in urban areas. For those that will be posted in the interior villages where there are no power supplies, good roads and other basic infrastructure to carry out their NYSC primary assignment, I have some words of encouragement for them because it is now that we know where their fears must be coming from. “take heart if that be the case because in now becomes a most that you serve in those villages, and do know that the best way to reduce fear is to be ready to confront fear or danger, so no cause for alarm as the villagers in such communities will take care of you’’

Finally, it is important to note that NYSC is a call to duty and not a place of real or permanent employment as can easily be seen in NYSC motto: “Service and Humility”. So corps members are hereby urged to go and work diligently in their PPA to complete the remaining phase of their service year that is meant to last just for one year. 

Wishing all the corps members all the best in their current and future endeavours.