We laud early postings by National Service Secretariat, but…
In an unprecedented move, the National Service Secretariat (NSS) has already completed its posting of service personnel to various parts of the country this year, three clear months ahead of the commencement of the service.
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We laud the proactiveness of the NSS in ensuring the timely release of postings this year.
Often, placements have been made too close to the start of the service and personnel are not given enough time to prepare to take up their positions, some of which are very far from their places of abode.
We, therefore, believe that with the early postings, common challenges such as lack of accommodation, limited spaces at establishments where service persons are posted and mix-ups will be cleared before the actual commencement of the service.
National service has come to stay as a very effective way of inculcating in the youth a sense of responsibility and independence, as well as experience in the management of their resources and in their chosen vocations.
However, the Daily Graphic believes that the NSS has an uphill task in placing all service personnel in jobs where they could get practical experience to top up their academic knowledge in various fields because there are only few places in industry for them.
That is why different modules have been developed in sanitation, road safety, fire prevention, among others, to ensure that all personnel are placed in places where they can effectively serve the country.
While we believe that the essence of national service is to create avenues for students to serve the country after school, we urge the secretariat to iron out any bottlenecks in administration to ensure that personnel are paid on time so that national service does not become ‘national suffering’, as it is often referred to.
No matter where personnel are posted, they should be able to serve the nation with pride in various capacities, and that is why we believe they should not be made to suffer unduly by way of unnecessary delays in the payment of their allowances.
Some of the places personnel are sent to serve the nation are so remote and deprived and the only motivation for such personnel will be the regular and timely payment of their allowances.
Indeed, the Daily Graphic recommends a second look at and an upward adjustment in the current allowance paid to service personnel, in view of the increase in the cost of living in the country.
We urge regional and district coordinators of the NSS to also effectively liaise with the national secretariat to ensure efficient administration and a smooth national service period.
The Daily Graphic urges the service personnel to give their best as they serve the nation, since, by so doing, they will not only carve a niche for themselves but could also gain permanent employment because of their hard work and commitment.
National service is an opportunity to pay back society’s investment in the education of the service persons, for which reason compensation is secondary.
After all, John F. Kennedy, the late US President, admonished Americans to “ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country”.
