Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed, has called for an increase in the allowances of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members.
The corps members are presently paid N19, 800 monthly by the Federal Government.
But the minister pleaded with President Goodluck Jonathan to look into ways of further reviewing upward the corps members’ allowance “because the youths and the students have been very supportive”.
Speaking during a campaign rally on Tuesday at Gwagwalada Area Council, Abuja, Mohammed also commended the president for reducing the pump price of petrol due to fall in oil prices at the international market.
He described Mr. Jonathan as a democrat and a true leader, who listens to the yearnings of the people, noting that the timely gesture would affect all sectors of the economy positively, particularly commercial transportation of goods and services from the rural to the urban areas.
He said, “Nigerian students have spoken here and they have shown us support, I want the NYSC allowance to be increased. On their behalf I am doing that, and I know he (President Jonathan) would do it one day”.
The minister claimed that Jonathan has delivered on his Transformation Agenda in the FCT citing the completion of the Airport and Kubwa Expressways as well as the completion of the Phases 3 & 4 Water Treatment Plants at the Lower Usman Dam initiated about 14 years ago.
“The water needs of Abuja for the next 50 years has been taken care of by the Jonathan Administration and that is why even water supply to the Gwagwalada Township has drastically improved”, Mohammed asserted.
On resettlement and compensation of original inhabitants of Abuja, the minister said that before now, contracts were awarded by previous governments to provide basic infrastructure in the FCT without adequate attention to resettlement and compensation, but with the Land Swap Initiative inaugurated by President Jonathan about two weeks ago, non-payment of compensation is no longer an issue.
Mr. Mohammed also noted that the FG has almost concluded the issue of FCT Board of Internal Revenue to generate sufficient funds to develop the FCT.
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