The Federal Government has lifted the restriction on posting National Youth Service Corps members to private sector organisations, including banks and oil and gas companies.
This policy change, which will take effect with the 2024 Batch ‘C’ Orientation exercise, marks a significant shift in the deployment of corps members across Nigeria.
The directive was contained in a memo issued by the Minister for Youth Development, Ayodele OlawandeOlawande.
The restriction, first implemented during the tenure of former Minister for Youth and Sports Development, Bolaji Abdullahi, aimed to discourage the exploitation of corps members in the private sector while bolstering capacity in the public sector.
Under the previous arrangement, corps members were primarily posted to four sectors—education, agriculture, health, and infrastructure.
However, Olawande noted that the restriction inadvertently limited the ability of Nigerian youths to gain practical experience in their fields of study, thus hindering their readiness for the labour market.
“The now-revoked policy greatly hampered experience gathering that would effectively prepare corps members for the job market,” the memo stated.
Olawande emphasised that the new policy reflects the need to adapt the NYSC program to current economic realities.
“There is an urgent need to expand opportunities for corps members to serve in areas relevant to their studies. This approach will enhance their professional development and better position them for employment post-service,” the minister explained.
