The Psychological Impact Of Hike In Fuel Price On Corps Members

Without doubt, the rapid increase in fuel price have certain psychological impact on Corps Members physical, mental and overall wellness and functioning.

Recall that on May 29, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared that subsidy be removed on fuel prices nationwide. This inadvertently resulted in surge in prices of goods and services that Corps Members rely on daily to perform their national duties in their various places of primary assignments.

The sudden rise in prices of essential goods and services without commensurate increase in income can land Corps members in the ghoul of depression and constant mental breakdowns. Especially, such inevitable human needs like transportation and foods. 

Moreover, despite NYSC stance on bad conduct, hike in prices of these essential commodities can reconfigure Corps Members perception of crime as a means and necessity to survive hard times. Today, internet fraud and related malicious ways of making money are appealing to the youths, struggling Corps Members may be pushed to consider engaging in these dubious activities for survival when they're mentally unstable and emotionally broken because of lacks.

While instilling discipline and punctuality are part and parsu of NYSC's scheme, unbearable increase in transport fare may lead some Corps Members to ghost their places of primary assignment involuntarily -- then the perpetual fear of being sanctioned may lead to emotional breakdowns.

However, to alleviate the impacts of the subsidy removal which inadvertently led to the hike in prices of all essential goods and services, I'll urge the federal government and the NYSC board to reduce corps members working days to 3, with CDS included. 

Even though the whole world is currently feeling the heat of economic meltdown, I'll advise that the government and NYSC board to consider reviewing Corps Members allowance structure and write to all corps members Places of Primary Assignment, urging them to increase their stipends to reflect today's public reality. Also, NYSC should make it a duty to encourage corps members to leave PPA where the employers are not paying, seamlessly.

As a cost saving measure, Corps Members whose Place of Primary Assignment do not require so much physical presence like, those working in 'New Media' organizations should be considered to work remotely from home.

I believe the above will cushion the deleterious psychological impacts of the hike in fuel price, and Corps Members will be relieved and make them do with the available resources they have to function effectively.

WRITTEN BY: Teslim Olamilekan Salaudeen

State Code: OS/23A/3834