Etung Local Government spends millions of naira each year housing youth corps members who serve at their offices. John Ogar works as the finance chief for the Cross River State council and defended their decision to build a corpers lodge. Anthony Bissong Attah leads the Young Progressives Party across the state and criticized the construction project. The politician argued that building new housing represents a waste of money and resources. Attah questioned what jobs the corps members actually perform for the local government.
Ogar explained that the council pays private property owners huge amounts of money to house the youth workers. Court cases sometimes arise when the government fails to make rental payments on time. The finance officer said building their facility would save money compared to renting from outside landlords. Corps members assigned directly to the council need places to stay during their service year. The government also operates shuttle buses to transport the young workers around town.
The local government chief believes the lodge makes financial sense for taxpayers and the council budget. Debt keeps piling up when they rent private buildings for the national service participants. Court battles over unpaid rent create additional stress and legal costs for government officials. Building their housing facility would eliminate these ongoing expenses and legal problems. Other corps members get housing through schools and organizations where they work.
Ogar explained that the council pays private property owners huge amounts of money to house the youth workers. Court cases sometimes arise when the government fails to make rental payments on time. The finance officer said building their facility would save money compared to renting from outside landlords. Corps members assigned directly to the council need places to stay during their service year. The government also operates shuttle buses to transport the young workers around town.
The local government chief believes the lodge makes financial sense for taxpayers and the council budget. Debt keeps piling up when they rent private buildings for the national service participants. Court battles over unpaid rent create additional stress and legal costs for government officials. Building their housing facility would eliminate these ongoing expenses and legal problems. Other corps members get housing through schools and organizations where they work.
