WHAT YOU MUST CONSIDER BEFORE ACCEPTING YOUR NYSC PPA

Congratulations on the successful completion of your NYSC orientation program. Many corp members are always anxious about their place of primary assignment. The feeling is normal. In the same way, it is important to check in place your PPA considerations before accepting to resume there.
You must put at the back of your mind that there are good PPAs while some other places might not be convenient for you and that doesn’t make it inconvenient for another person.
Now that you have been posted to your PPA. Let’s take a deep look into the conditions you have to consider before accepting NYSC PPA.
In order not to find your eleven months of commitment to your dear country, consider the following factors;

• Conducive Accommodation
Providing a conducive environment for thousands of young people for a year is quite a huge expense and task. Many PPA do not have good apartments and lack some basic facilities. Some PPAs are crowded or in a rural environment. You may not be able to find standard accommodation in rural areas, you may have to do with the available ones provided for you. You can also decide to get a better place for yourself if they are within the environment or you can afford it. Ensure you do a proper investigation of the accommodation arrangement and the charges involved. You can find out some other additional charges and ensure it is a place you can comfortably live within a year to avoid unnecessary cases. Remember a conducive environment can influence your experience during your service. If you are getting accommodation by yourself, check for network, road accessibility, network service, access to water, toilet, and many more.

• Location and Accessibility
You need to adequately consider and compare the distance of the location of your PPA to your residence to reduce the cost of transport. How accessible it is to your place of primary assignment is a question you need to ask yourself. Remember, your commitment is going to be duly checked. Ensure that your residence is not too far from your PPA.

• Monetary factor
It is a very important aspect to consider before accepting NYSC PPA. Take full note of the financial situation surrounding your PPA. Consider the stipends you will receive at the end of the month and the cost of living in that environment. Make sure your financial capacity can sustain you in that environment.

• Opportunities for Development
One of the objectives behind the NYSC scheme is to open youth corpers to better and lifetime opportunities. Look for opportunities for personal and professional development. Is your PPA a place where you can access opportunities? You need to ask yourself and provide adequate answers. You are not just there to contribute to society; what do you intend to gain, too, with opportunities in respect to your future career?

• Alignment with Career Goals
Examine how the PPA aligns with your academic or long-term career goals. Is it capable of delivering relevant experience in your field of study or desired industry? This can have a significant impact on your professional advancement. As much as you are contributing to the development of the country, you should also seek your development.

• Employment Surroundings
Your NYSC PPA work environment can have a significant impact on your job satisfaction. Gather enough details about the work ethics, work duration, and what skills are expected of you to bring to the table. You need to find those out to check if they align with your work desires or preferences.

• Volume of work
If you are been posted to a school, you are not expected to handle more than two subjects. You can extend your tentacles if you can handle more than that. Refuse to be overworked especially when it comes to private schools. Recognize your limits and communicate them clearly.

• Your Welfare
You are the number one factor in this game. Before accepting NYSC PPA, consider yourself first. What effect does this PPA have on my physical health and mental health? Think deeply about that.

• Reviews from Past Corps Members
You can reach out to past corp members to get feedback about your PPA. Hearing about their experiences can give you a sight of what to expect and can prepare you ahead of your stay in the PPÀ or even accepting NYSC PPA. Seeking feedback can assist you in making a good conclusion. Get reviews from the current corpers and employees in the organization to understand how the organization is being operated by the management. This information will help you decide if you want to stay on the premises or what to expect from your employer.

• Contribution to Community Development
Have you thought about your impact on the community you are being posted? If your PPA will not help you in contributing meaningfully to society, you need to seek a possible solution. The NYSC scheme aims to enable youths to contribute to the development of the country. Choose a PPA that will assist you fulfill this goal.

• Legal and Ethical Standards
Make sure your PPA’s moral ethics and standards align with yours. Working in an environment that submits to the country’s law and order can be a great advantage to you. Nobody wants to work in a toxic environment or a place of low moral standards.

• Access to a free- day weekly
You are entitled to a free work day in a week. This is usually a day for Community Development Service Day. Your PPA must be ready to free you on this day. If you won’t be given this day, you need to reconsider.

• Local PPA allowance
Your PPA is expected to give you a certain amount at the end of the month. This is different from your monthly stipend from the Federal Government. Ensure you make it clear politely that you will not appreciate being owed. Many employers will tell you the Federal Government is already paying, make them understand that they still have to pay you for your contribution to their organization.
Do not be too eager to accept your PPA, or else it may not end up being a palatable story to tell. Also, ensure that your NYSC PPA resonates with your moral standards and ethics. Some organizations will insist that workers wear revealing clothes for marketing purposes. Take your PPA consideration seriously so that you don’t just fulfill NYSC’s goal while you neglect your life and career.
Gather enough information about your PPA before accepting to work there. You don’t have to rush into what you won’t like. You have the right to reject any PPA that will not be convenient for you. An acceptance letter will be issued to you which you will take to your Zonal Inspector if you accept to work there. In all, your decision about accepting NYSC PPA is valid. Do not allow anyone to rob you of your eleven months.