The Federal Government has lifted restrictions on National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) postings, allowing corps members to serve in private sector organizations such as banks and oil and gas companies. This policy shift, announced by the Minister for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, will take effect with the commencement of the 2024 Batch ‘C’ Orientation Course. The new directive replaces the earlier policy limiting postings to education, agriculture, health, and infrastructure, a framework introduced to curb exploitation of corps members and bolster public sector capacity.
The decision is part of President Bola Tinubu’s broader strategy to tackle youth unemployment by aligning NYSC deployments with professional development goals. Minister Olawande stated that the change will initially apply in Lagos and Abuja, providing corps members opportunities to gain hands-on experience in their fields of study. This expansion is seen as a step toward bridging the gap between education and employment, empowering young Nigerians with relevant skills and exposure.
Highlighting the limitations of the previous policy, Olawande noted that it restricted graduates from exploring roles that align with their academic training. The memo emphasized the need for corps members to serve in environments that enhance their professional growth. “There is an urgent need to review this policy to expand opportunities for corps members to gain practical experience in their chosen fields,” the minister stated.
The directive will encourage postings to both public and private institutions while striving to align corps member placements with their academic qualifications. The policy aims to address challenges of underemployment by allowing deployments to high-value industries such as banking and oil and gas, fostering an environment conducive to career preparation.
This development is expected to reshape the NYSC experience, offering corps members a broader range of professional opportunities. While private sector involvement raises concerns about equitable treatment, the government aims to monitor and review the policy periodically to ensure it serves its intended purpose of enhancing youth employability.
