The House of Representatives has called on Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government to stop rejecting members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) posted to them for their mandatory one-year national service, warning that the growing practice is undermining the objectives of the scheme and wasting public resources.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion moved by Hon. Rodney Ebikebina Ambaiowei during plenary on Thursday.
The lawmakers expressed concern that many government establishments across the country have continued to turn away corps members assigned to them by the NYSC, leaving young graduates without meaningful places of primary assignment and depriving them of opportunities to gain practical work experience.
Leading the debate, Ambaiowei said the increasing rejection of corps members by public institutions has become a serious challenge that requires urgent attention from the government and relevant stakeholders.
According to him, the NYSC was established to promote national unity, expose graduates to different cultures and environments, and provide them with practical experience that would prepare them for the labour market. However, he noted that these objectives are being threatened by the refusal of some agencies to accept corps members posted to them.
The lawmaker explained that many graduates spend several years acquiring academic qualifications with the hope of gaining hands-on experience during their service year. He argued that denying them the opportunity to serve in assigned organisations weakens the purpose of the scheme and limits their chances of developing professional skills.
He further noted that corps members rejected by government agencies are often forced to search for alternative places of assignment, a process that can be stressful and frustrating.
According to Ambaiowei, some of the affected corps members eventually find placements in private organisations where they may be subjected to exploitation, poor working conditions or inadequate supervision.
He warned that the situation could also expose some unemployed and idle corps members to criminal activities and other social vices if they remain without proper engagement during their service year.
The lawmaker stressed that the issue goes beyond the welfare of corps members and has wider implications for national development.
He pointed out that the Federal Government continues to pay monthly allowances to corps members throughout their service year, regardless of whether they are fully engaged in productive work.
As a result, he argued, rejecting corps members amounts to a waste of public funds because the government is investing resources in graduates whose skills are not being properly utilised.
Ambaiowei also warned that the continued rejection of corps members could discourage future graduates from taking the NYSC programme seriously and weaken public confidence in one of Nigeria’s longest-running national institutions.
Following deliberations on the motion, members of the House unanimously adopted the resolution and urged all Ministries, Departments and Agencies, including the National Assembly itself, to desist from rejecting corps members posted to them by the NYSC.
The lawmakers further called on government institutions to create work schedules and operational frameworks that would allow corps members to participate actively in their daily activities.
They highlighted that corps members should not merely be accepted for record purposes but should be properly integrated into the workforce in ways that would enable them to contribute meaningfully while also developing valuable professional skills.
The House maintained that many corps’ members possess knowledge and abilities that can support public institutions in delivering services more effectively if given the opportunity.
To ensure lasting solutions to the problem, the House mandated its Committee on Youth Development to engage with the Director-General of the NYSC and other relevant stakeholders.
The committee was specifically tasked with developing a framework that would guarantee the effective engagement of corps members throughout their service year and ensure that their talents, knowledge and energy are harnessed for national development.
The NYSC scheme was established in 1973 by the military government of General Yakubu Gowon following the Nigerian Civil War. The program was designed to foster national unity, reconciliation and integration by deploying graduates to states outside their regions of origin.
Over the years, millions of Nigerian graduates have participated in the scheme, serving in schools, hospitals, government agencies, private companies and community development projects across the country.
The program has played a significant role in addressing manpower shortages in sectors such as education and healthcare, particularly in rural communities where qualified personnel are often limited.
However, despite its contributions, the scheme has faced several challenges over the years, including concerns about the welfare and security of corps members, delays in deployment, inadequate accommodation and difficulties in securing suitable places of primary assignment.
The issue of corps members being rejected by organisations has become increasingly common in recent years, with many participants complaining about the difficulty of finding institutions willing to accommodate them after deployment.
Stakeholders have repeatedly argued that proper engagement of corps members would not only enhance their professional development but also provide valuable support to public institutions facing manpower shortages.
With the House now calling for an end to the rejection of corps members and the development of a new engagement framework, attention will shift to the NYSC management and government institutions to ensure that the resolutions are implemented and that corps members are given the opportunity to serve productively during their mandatory year of national service.