When we passed out from camp on Tuesday, 15th August, I was somewhat elated when I learnt from my posting letter that I was posted to Industrial Training Fund in Maitama.
I hitherto left my little luggage with the Nigeria Christian Corpers Fellowship
in the camp and rushed to the organization I was posted to. Pathetically, I was told that the Director General was attending a one week conference and that I should either wait till the close of work to see if he would check in, continue visiting every everyday to see if I can catch him in or check the following week.I opted to wait for him. When he didn't come back till the close of work, I had to return to the camp in the evening. People were leaving the camp in droves and the camp was now a ghost of itself.
Only the beehive of activities in the NCCF showed that people were still in Kubwa camp. I had to sleep in the chapel with other stranded corps members, enduring the cold night and mosquito bites, because we were not allowed into their rooms; in order not to lick their well prepared pot of soup. In the morning, I left again for my PPA and was informed that the boss would not be in the office. In fact, I was graciously advised to check back on Monday next week, instead of wasting money on transportation (five hundred naira; to and fro).
When I got back to the camp on that Thursday afternoon, I was really at a loss on what to do. To compound my problems, the corps member in charge of the chapel revealed that they would be embarking on an evangelical mission to Gwagwalada in the morning; tagged Rural Rugged and that they would lock up the chapel. I needed no one to tell me that I should either go with them or find accommodation elsewhere, since they would be leaving on Friday morning, to return on Sunday. Luckily, I read from the WhatsApp group I joined on camp that there was another family house in Nyanya and I had to leave on Friday morning for Nyanya; to stay with the National Association of Catholic Corpers.
At the NACC in Nyanya, I was welcomed and I relaxed among the corps members I met there. I was given a run down of the rules in the lodge and I needed no one to tell me that the earlier I settled with my PPA and found my own accommodation, the better for me; because I was expected to register with the association for 3,500 naira, pay a monthly maintenance fee of 4,000 and then endure sharing a room with 8 people, aside cooking your own food. In fact, I set out in search of an accommodation within the vicinity because the lodge was simply a refugee camp to me, lol!
Even though the effort came back unstuck, I was glad to have made a move. Nevertheless, I was not committed because I did not know what to expect from my PPA. The weekend was very boring as I was being checked for everything: ranging from how I dressed to what I was doing. I was not to put on shorts or anything that would expose any sensitive part of my body; in order not to lead others into temptation. (Which temptation? Eight people in a room? Where una go stay do the do? You go fear temptation na!)
Anyway, Monday morning came and I left for my PPA. Another female corps member joined me in waiting for the boss. The boss could not show up till 1pm. I even dozed off. However, we were directed to the Accountant. After welcoming us and asking many unrelated questions, he rejected us...on the excuse that the organization was saturated with about 28 corps members, even when they hitherto had positions for only three. However, according to the Accountant, even the government was foot dragging in paying back the 10,000 naira the organization was paying Corps members, so the organization was left with no option than to start rejecting the corps members posted to them.
The other corps member continued putting off the Accountant from signing the rejection letter and continued calling her contacts to press buttons. She was temporarily rewarded when a staffer came to whisper to the Accountant that a request letter for a corps member was sent to the organization and they both left to confirm. (So, all of a sudden, the organization was no longer saturated?) Me, na who I sabi? Akuko Mike Ejeagha. I jejely and nwanyoly collected my rejection letter, bade farewell to the few friends I made there and left for the zonal office; to submit my rejection letter. If there is anything I appreciate about the organization, it's their ability to allow connectionless corps members to use their elevator to come and collect their rejection letters on the 6th floor. We for die for the staircase.
At the zonal office, I was asked if I had a request letter from any organization, I said no and proceeded to write the application letter for reposting. I was told to come back on Thursday for the new posting letter.
The days dragged on. I had nothing else to do than tolerate whatever I encountered in the Catholic Lodge.
Since corps members were expected to feed themselves, I was spending more than 1k everyday. My stomach ulcer became more peptic. The 19,800 naira I collected in camp was long gone and I had to swallow my pride to solicit help from home.
When Thursday came, I left for the zonal office and waited from 7am to 9:52am before a staffer was able to issue me with my new posting letter.
I was posted to National Hospital this time around and I had doubts because I spent four years in the university studying English and Literary Studies and nothing pertaining to health. Anyway, I went all the same. No be national service I come do for Abuja? When I submitted my application letter to the Chief Medical Director's secretary, she told me to check back in an hour. I used the free time to bribe the worms in my stomach with roasted yam soaked in Abuja oil. I cannot come and die of hunger on top PPA matter.
