The federal government has revoked all directives restricting the posting of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, marking a significant shift in policy.
In a memo dated November 18, 2024, the Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, informed the NYSC Director General that the new directive would take effect from the commencement of the 2024 Batch ‘C Orientation Course.
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The minister explained that the decision aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s vision to harmonize government operations and tackle youth unemployment. “President Tinubu is highly concerned about the rising rate of youth unemployment. As a result, he expects the Ministry of Youth Development and its affiliated agencies to take a leading role in addressing the issue,” Olawande said in a statement released by Omolara Esan, the ministry’s Director of Information and Public Relations.
Olawande highlighted that the current NYSC posting policy, introduced during former Minister Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi’s tenure, limited corps members to four sectors: Education, Agriculture, Health, and Infrastructure. He acknowledged the rationale behind the policy, noting it addressed the exploitation of corps members as cheap labor by private organizations. However, he emphasized that the policy has inadvertently hindered many corps members from gaining specialized experience in their fields of study.
“Many corps members who require specialized training in their areas of study are limited by the posting policy, which has greatly hampered experience gathering that would effectively prepare them for the job market,” he said.
To address this, Olawande announced sweeping changes to expand opportunities for corps members. “As we battle the unemployment crisis, there is an urgent need to review this policy to expand the opportunity and access for corps members to serve in places that are relevant to their areas of study,” he stated.
The minister directed the following:
1. Lifting all restrictions on postings.
2. Ensuring corps members are posted, as much as practicable, in alignment with their course of study.
3. Allowing postings to select banks and private sector organizations, including those in the oil and gas industry, starting with Abuja and Lagos.
He added, “I hereby revoke all previous directives relating to posting restrictions with effect from the date of commencement of the 2024 Batch ‘C Orientation Course. This directive applies to all matters relating to the posting and distribution of corps members to Places of Primary Assignment.”
