If you are a prospective or serving corps member in Nigeria, you might have heard of the term CLO and wondered what it means and what it entails. In this blog post, we will explain the meaning of CLO in NYSC and their duties as part of the national service scheme.
CLO stands for Corper’s Liaison Officer
It is the highest ranking corps member who leads, coordinates and supervises other corps members in a local government area. The CLO is also an intermediary between the NYSC management, the local government inspector (LGI), and the corps members.
How to Become a CLO
To become a CLO, you need to have some qualities such as:
- Leadership skills: You need to be able to lead a diverse group of people with different backgrounds, personalities, and interests. You need to be able to delegate tasks, motivate others, solve problems, and make decisions.
- Communication skills: You need to be able to communicate effectively with your fellow corps members, the LGI, and other stakeholders in the NYSC scheme. You need to be able to address a crowd of corps members and other audiences with confidence and clarity. You also need to be able to negotiate, persuade, and influence others.
- Availability: You need to be available and accessible to your fellow corps members, the LGI, and other stakeholders in the NYSC scheme. You need to be ready to assist them whenever they need your help or guidance.
- Hardworking: You need to be hardworking and diligent in carrying out your duties as a CLO. You need to be able to handle multiple tasks and responsibilities without compromising on quality or efficiency.
The process of becoming a CLO varies depending on the level you want to serve. There are three levels of CLOs in NYSC:
- PPA level: This is the CLO that represents the corps members serving at a particular place of primary assignment (PPA). The selection of this CLO is usually done by the PPA through an election or appointment.
- Local government level: This is the CLO that represents the corps members serving in a particular local government area. The selection of this CLO is usually done by the LGI based on how hardworking and supportive the person is.
- State level: This is the CLO that represents the corps members serving in a particular state. The selection of this CLO is usually done by the state coordinator based on how outstanding and exemplary the person is.
Duties of CLO in NYSC
The main duty of the CLO is to assist the LGI in carrying out his or her responsibilities. Some of these responsibilities include:
- Notifying the LGI of available places of primary assignment (PPA) in the area
- Assisting in clearance process for corps members
- Coordinating community development service (CDS) meetings
- Helping in menial jobs useful to the LGI
- Monitoring and reporting the activities of the corps members to the LGI
- Leading in the registration of new corps members, and other similar duties.
Benefits of Being CLO in NYSC
The CLO is arguably more privileged than other corps members as they enjoy some benefits such as:
- Respect: At the time you become a CLO, people’s perception and regard for you will change. Fellow corps members recognize that they are under your authority and would respect you. Also, people’s expectations from CLO make him or her act in high regard, in conduct and attitude. This makes him or her gain more respect.
- Leadership skills development: Becoming the CLO would improve your leadership skills. The duties and roles of the CLO would challenge the leadership ability in you and make you a better person.
- Public speaking skills: Another benefit of becoming the CLO is that it helps you to develop your public speaking skills. Since CLO always has to speak to a group of people with a lot of confidence and negotiate where necessary, you will develop public speaking skills by being a CLO.
- Raising up your business network: With the close association with the LGI, if well harnessed can be a chance to meet other people on the same level with him or her or even higher. Aside from the LGI, you will be in contact with other senior government workers in the local secretariat which can easily increase your business network.
- Boosting your CV: Imagine a CLO going on an interview with someone else that has a similar level of education, qualification, and abilities, but was not a CLO during his or her service year. Who do you think the company would likely pick? It is likely that they would pick the CLO because most companies need someone who is a team player, someone who has leadership skills and can easily coordinate people to achieve set goals.
We hope this blog post has helped you to understand what CLO means in NYSC and their duties. If you are interested in becoming a CLO, we wish you all the best in your pursuit. If you are not, we hope you still appreciate the role and contribution of the CLOs in the NYSC scheme.
