(House of Representatives. Photo Credit: NALTF)
The House of Representatives has directed all government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to stop turning away National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members posted to them for their mandatory one-year service.
The resolution was passed following a motion introduced by lawmaker Rodney Ebikebina Ambaiowei, who raised alarm over the increasingly common practice of government establishments refusing to accept corps members assigned to them.
He argued that this trend denies young graduates the chance to gain hands-on work experience and deprives the country of their potential contributions to national development.
Ambaiowei further warned that rejected corps members are left in a precarious position vulnerable to exploitation by private organizations or, in some cases, susceptible to criminal influence due to idleness during what should be a productive service year.
He also flagged the financial angle, noting that the federal government continues paying monthly allowances to corps members who are not meaningfully engaged, amounting to a waste of public funds.
After deliberations, the House passed the motion and extended the directive to include the National Assembly itself, calling on all agencies to not only accept corps members but also design structured work schedules that properly integrate them into day-to-day operations.
Additionally, the House tasked its Committee on Youth Development to work with the NYSC Director-General to establish a clear framework for deploying corps members effectively, ensuring their skills are put to meaningful use throughout the duration of their service year.