Why we asked YES-O Cadets to Re-Apply -Oyo Govt

The Oyo State Government has explained the rationale behind the directive to all the 20,000 cadets of the Youth Empowerment Scheme of Oyo State (YES-O) to re-apply.

The Government, in a statement issued in Ibadan on Tuesday by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Mr. ` Wale Sadeeq, said that the development was aimed at improving, re-invigorating and repositioning the scheme for more service delivery.

Besides, it also said that the move was sequel to the numerous complaints by some members of the public on the conducts of some cadets.

It would be recalled that all the cadets serving with YES-O, a scheme inaugurated by Governor Abiola Ajimobi on December 1, 2011, were last week directed by the State Government to re-apply for the scheme, with immediate effect.

Although the scheme was aimed at serving as a stop-gap for most of the unemployed youths in the first instance, a number of them have since been given permanent employment by the State Government in various ministries, agencies and parastatals.

However, Governor Ajimobi had, of recent, expressed displeasure at the conduct of some YES-O cadets, saying that his office had been inundated with reports of harassment and extortion of members of the public by the cadets.

He also said that he was aware of the clandestine acts by the opposition in infiltrating the scheme with a view to making use of some officials in dealing with innocent members of the public so as to discredit the scheme.

Consequently, the state government has directed any youth interested in the scheme, including former cadets, to re-apply through their respective Wards/Local Governments, stating their age and educational qualifications.

According to the State Government, physical fitness would also be among the criteria to be used in the recruitment exercise, adding that necessary interview would thereafter be organized to pick the qualified ones for the scheme.