NYSC: A Must Read For PCMs Entering Camp

Prepare Your Mind:
First and foremost, you need to prepare your mind that you are leaving home for a regimented life in the camp. Life in the camp is deliberately made stressful so as to prepare you for any challenge that may confront you outside the camp. You will not find it too comfortable; it’s a camp and not your Father’s house! Just be ready for anything.

*2. Itemize All Your Needs Using A Scale of Preference (very important ones first):*
1. Very Important Ones

a. Statement of Result
b. School ID card
c. Passport photographs (10 copies, white background, Surplus is better than inadequacy)
d. Call-Up Letter (Do Not laminate it please)
e. Medical Certificate of Fitness indicating your health status
e. A Clear Bag file (To house the above items)
NB: Get 5 photocopies each of items A,B,D and E above and also go with their Original copies also.

2. Important Ones (For your Convenience)
a. Stationaries; pen, Stapler, pin, gum, permanent marker (these will save you the stress of ‘borrow-me’ please)
b. Two or three white T-shirts and shorts (You will be given two sets but you may not like the quality and size)
c. Two or three pairs of socks and white rubber tennis shoes (for rainy days)
d. Plastic bucket (You can buy it in the camp but it will be more expensive)
e. Toiletries Essentials-(Toothbrush & Toothpaste, Bath soap & Sponge, Detergent, Toilet Paper, Towel, slippers, detol).
f. Bed sheet, pillow case, wrapper, one or two pairs of casual wear for Sundays and burn fire night, Cardigan (not compulsory)
g. Mosquito Net (not compulsory)
h. Handkerchiefs (very important especially for those that sweat)
i. Waist bag (very very important for housing your phones,
ID Cards, Handkerchief, biros, etc)
j. Small-sized Torchlight/Rechargeable lamp (small one please) and Sunglasses (If you are posted to the North)
k. Your ATM card(s)
l. food flask, cup, spoon, water bottle for water during parade.
m. Basic drug like Panadol, Paracetamol, malaria drug,flagyl, pain relief drug and/other basis drugs.
n. Padlocks and key
o. Ladies could add any other few conveniences. I believe you understand me.
p. Money! Money! Money! Hold good cash please 15k to 20k depending on how you spend.

*3. Go Early:*
Please, no matter how close the camp might be to your street, enable to go early. If you are posted to a far state, go the day before the camp opens. They will allow you in.
Going late will make you go through registration stress. Be warned!

*4. Screening:*
The screening starts at the gate, where your loads are open and thoroughly search. They don’t want you to bring in prohibited items like iron, knives, fork, explosive, etc.

*5. Registration:*
The first registration will certainly be for hostel/bed space, where you will be given tags to identify with. Then the paper registrations proper follow. Try as much as possible to make everything available. Look out for information pasted on walls. Follow instructions strictly.

*6. Your Kits:*
During the registration, you will get all your kits (shirts, shorts and shoes). Use the marker to write your Code Number (CN) on them ‘sharp-sharp” You will also be given a tag that will show your CN. That will be your ID card temporarily. You take it everywhere in camp. You will be given a meal ticket. Misplace it and forget about NYSC food.

*7. Duration:*
You will be in the camp for 20 full days. The 21st day is the day you will be leaving the camp.

*8. No Room For Casual Wears:*
Immediately you have your kits, only your T-shirt and shorts with the tennis shoe are allowed on you. No room for casual wears. Parade/marching training starts immediately. The soldiers will not give you breathing space at all. You will have the first one that same Day One. Watch Out! People could be fainting on the Parade Ground. You won’t faint, calm down. So eat well. It’s the stress that causes their fainting.

*9. Morning Regimented Programme:*
A small trumpet wakes you at 4am. Everybody gathers at the Parade Ground (PG) at 4:30am. You have your praise, worship and prayer the Christian and Muslim ways. After the morning admonitions, by 7am, breakfast follows! After eating, you will be called out again for the series of programmes lined up for you. Then you have your lunch, Rest a little and you are out again for evening parade, then your dinner later. This will repeat itself everyday perhaps except on Sunday.

*10. Hate The Food And Feed Yourselves At Your Costs:*
You may not like the food. You can always go to the Mammy Market (MM) i.e the Camp Market to fill your ‘tank’ with delicacies at your cost.

*11. Stealing:*
Stealing is prevalently prevailing at the Camp. They can steal anything. Be wise!

*12. Soldiers:*
Please I beckon on you all to respect and obey them. Although they are not permitted to beat you, however, they can punish you. No walking, it is all jogging when they call you. Don’t prostrate or kneel down greeting a soldier. Do it the soldier way. They could be friendly anyway.

*13. Allawee:*
Your first allowance *(#33, 000)* will be given to you in the camp, and it will be in cash. All other ones will be through the bank. You will also get a Bicycle Allowance. You’ll also be paid the sum of *#1800* as Bicycle allowance and *#1400* as Transportation allowance.

*14. Photography:*
Photographers are going to be everywhere ready to snap you, please be prudent in spending.

*15. By Now you’re done with Camp and Going to Your Place of Primary Assignment:*
You will be posted from the camp to where you will work. The place you work in is called your Place of Primary Assignment (PPA).
Hear this: most Corps members, I mean about 90% of the Corpers will be posted to schools (especially primary and secondary schools). Only Very Few will be posted to the universities, polytechnics and Colleges. Please! Don’t lobby for your posting. Don’t pay anybody for assistance. Pray rather than pay. Gone are the days when Corps Members are posted to Banks and Co. Receive the shocking or expected postings as you receive your letters with joy. It’s a clarion call to service; that’s what they call it.

*16. Transportation Out Of Camp:*
When you get your Posting Letter, the first place to go to is your PPA. If you are identified with the Fellowship in camp, you may first report at the temporary lodge they will provide. Then you could report to your PPA later the same day or the following day. Please, when you leave the camp, home-sweet-home will be on your mind, having been used up in the camp. But please, don’t go home straight. Please! Very few of your employers (i.e. PPAs) will send down vehicles to convey you from the camp to their workplaces. Private and some Government higher education institutions do. The Fellowship too makes arrangements for you at your cost. Commercial transporters will likely be available at the gate too. Be wise.

*17. Accommodation at PPA:*
You don’t know anybody in Benue or Kogi! Where will you sleep on the first day? The Fellowship may give you a temporary accommodation pending the time you will have to get yours. You could be lucky if your employer gives you a room. Many of them don’t give Corpers accommodation anyway. So be prepared to rent one at your cost. Your first ‘allowee’ which you received in the camp is already going down!

*18. Clearance:*
This is why you don’t have to go home straight. Your registration (clearance) at the NYSC Office in the Local Government you will be posted to is important. Failure to complete it before going home is the beginning of your problem.
He may begin to have problems with his subsequent monthly allowances. Do all registrations first. Then you can take permission to go home. Long process! Y
ou will know why it’s so. Well, I hope these few tips will help.