No fewer than 47 of the Batch 'B' corps members in Rivers, Kwara, Osun, Oyo, Ondo and Nasarawa states on Thursday received states' honour awards for their outstanding performance.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 13 corps members were conferred with the various awards for their outstanding performance in Rivers, 11 in Kwara, 10 in Oyo, 10 in Osun and 3 in Oyo states.

NAN reports that four corps members died during the service year in Rivers and two in Kwara.

Speaking during the Passing-Out Ceremony of the 2012/2013 Batch 'B' Corps Members in Port Harcourt, Gov. Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers lauded the corps members for their contributions to nation building.

Amaechi urged them to get more involved in the task of building a united, peaceful and egalitarian Nigerian society.

The governor, represented by Mr Joe Poroma, the Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, said that building an integrated Nigeria was one of the objectives for setting up the scheme.

According to him, the ongoing restructuring of the NYSC scheme aimed at rendering it even more pivotal to the realisation of the national transformation efforts ``is very imperative and timely''.

Mr George Feyii, the Chairman, NYSC Governing Board and Secretary to the state government, also commended the corps members for their completion of the one-year service.

Mrs Josphen Okuonghae, the Rivers Coordinator of NYSC, urged corps members to practice the various entrepreneurial skills acquired during the service year.

"As you are being demobilised today, it is apt to restate that the era of 'sit-tight-for-manna-to-fall-from-above' is no longer feasible," Okuonghae said.

In Ilorin, Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara expressed dismay that the whereabouts of the three corps members were yet to be ascertained and charged other members to be security conscious.

He warned them never to associate with bad company while on national assignment and not to travel without prior permission of the authority.

Ahmed, who was represented by the state Head of Service, Alhaji Dabarako Mohammed, also commiserated with the families of the two departed corps members.

Speaking with the NAN on the missing corps members, the state Coordinator of the NYSC, Mrs Ngozi Ezekwe, explained that the three corps members left their places of primary assignments without permissions.

She told NAN that the families of the missing corps had been contacted while security agencies were carrying on investigations to unravel the mystery behind the missing corps members.

In Ibadan, no fewer than 23 out of the 4, 173 outgoing 2012 Batch B NYSC  members in Oyo State were to be sanctioned for various offences during the service year.

The Coordinator, NYSC, Oyo State, Mr Olanipekun Alao, said  at the passing-out parade that erring members would be  sanctioned with extension of service or outright repeat of service year.

He said that some of the corps members performed much better, adding that they had carved a niche for themselves as meritorious young men and women.

"The outgoing corps members have made valuable contributions to the development of the state in Education, Healthcare Delivery, Social Services and Community Development. They trained women and the youth in various skills and facilitated rural electrification,'' Alao said.

He appealed to the state government to accelerate the completion of the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp at Iseyin to alleviate the sufferings at the present temporary camp.

Alao also appealed to the state government for an upward review of the state allowances paid to the NYSC members from N4, 000 to an amount that would reflect the market situation.

In his remarks, Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State commended the NYSC members for their immense contribution to the socioeconomic development of the state.

Ajimobi, who was represented by Alhaji Akin Olajide, the Secretary to the State Government urged the NYSC members to engage their time and mind in creative ventures.

In Ondo State, Gov. Olusegun Mimiko restated government's commitment to supporting NYSC programme in the state.

Mimiko, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Kola Ademujimi, noted that the scheme had impacted positively on some areas, as part of the vision of its founding fathers.

He listed the areas as supervision of electoral processes nationwide, campaign against HIV/AIDS pandemic, propagating government policies such as NEMA, EFCC, ICPC, and the Road Safety.

He said that 13 corps members would repeat the service year for absconding.

In Ede (Osun) Gov. Rauf Aregesola appreciated the corps members for their community development projects.

The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Youths and Special Duties, Hon. Stephen Kola-Balogun presented the awards to the outstanding corps members at their passing out ceremony in Ede.

The governor said that qualities of patriotism and hard work will continue to be rewarded.

In her speech, the state coordinator of NYSC, Mrs Mojibola Eboagwu said that the scheme was passing out 3, 797 corps members, who had served in different communities in the state over the past one year.

She said that in line with the NYSC Laws, nine corps members and 21 others who absented and absconded from service would be given extension of service or outright repetition of the service.

In Lafia, some of the corps members expressed dismay over non-payment of allowances owed to some of their colleagues.

Some of the outgoing corps members spoke their minds at the Lafia Local Government Secretariat, where they came to receive their NYSC certificates.

He said they were being owed almost 10 months allowances by the state government.

Elisha Felix, a corps member in Lafia said that he wondered why people would work and not receive remuneration for their efforts.

Godwin Godswill, another outgoing batch 'B' corps said, "I feel bad about it".

Miss Chinyere Nwosu also supported the action of her colleagues, over that staged a protest in Keffi for the non-payment of allowances on Wednesday.

"I support what our members did in Keffi. I am not happy because the state government supposed to pay them."

However, the Nasarawa state Commissioner for Sports and Youth development, Mr Angama Weibey reassured the outgoing corps members that all outstanding allowances would be paid ``very soon''.

The commissioner added that Gov. Umaru Al-Makura had ordered that all allowances for Batch B be paid promptly.

(NAN)