The Federal Government (FG) has lifted the ban restricting posting of members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to the public sector
With the move, ‘corpers’ can now be posted to private sector organisations, including banks and oil and gas companies.
The new policy directive which will take effect initially in Lagos and Abuja with the 2024 Batch ‘C’ Orientation exercise was announced in a memo issued on Monday by the Minister for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande.
Olawande said the new policy was sequel to President Bola Tinubu’s strategy to tackle rising youth unemployment with a view to ensuring that government agencies align with the vision of his administration.
The memo read in part: “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. Without prejudice to the need to constantly review per prevailing realities, I now direct as follows: Lifting of all restrictions on postings.
“Posting of corps members to, as much as practicable, be in line with their course of study. Posting of corps members to select banks and other private sector organisations, including those operating in oil and gas, to commence with Abuja and Lagos. The directive contained herein will take effect from the date of commencement of the 2024 Batch ‘C Orientation Course and applies in relation to any matter relating to the posting and distribution of corps members to Places of Primary Assignment.
“The now revoked policy has greatly hampered experience gathering that would effectively prepare them for the job market.
The previous policy which was implemented during the tenure of former Minister for Youth and Sports Development, Bolaji Abdullahi, was intended to prevent private companies from exploiting cheap labour while promoting public sector capacity building. It therefore restricted corps members to only four sectors of the economy, which included education, agriculture, health and infrastructure.
Olawande added that the new policy would also allow ‘corpers’ to gain valuable experience in their chosen fields of study.
He added that the previous policy hampered Nigerian youths from gaining experiences that would prepare them for the labour market.
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