The House of Representatives has expressed strong disapproval over the increasing rejection of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), warning that the practice undermines the core objectives of the national service scheme and leads to a waste of public resources.
Motion Sparks Debate on NYSC Rejection
The concern was raised during a motion sponsored by Hon. Rodney Ebikebina Ambaiowei, who called for an immediate end to the practice of turning away corps members posted to government institutions across Nigeria. The motion was presented during plenary, which was presided over by Speaker Abass Tajudeen.
Ambaiowei recalled that the NYSC scheme was established in 1973 by the administration of former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, as part of post-civil war efforts to promote national unity, reconciliation, and reconstruction. He noted that the programme was designed to foster national integration by deploying young graduates to states other than their states of origin or residence for a mandatory one-year service.
Contributions to National Development
The lawmaker observed that over the years, the scheme has contributed significantly to national cohesion by providing graduates with opportunities to gain work experience, establish businesses, build social networks, and integrate into host communities. However, he lamented that many government establishments now reject corps members assigned to them, thereby denying graduates the chance to acquire practical experience and contribute meaningfully to national development.
According to Ambaiowei, this trend leaves many corps members vulnerable to exploitation by private employers and exposure to criminal activities. It also deprives both the public and private sectors of a potentially productive workforce.
Waste of Public Funds
Ambaiowei further argued that the rejection of corps members amounts to a waste of public funds, as the government continues to pay monthly stipends to graduates who are not effectively engaged in productive activities. He stressed that proper deployment and utilisation of corps members in government offices would not only provide valuable workplace experience but also improve career prospects for young graduates and enhance national productivity.
House Resolutions
The House of Representatives resolved to urge all MDAs, including the National Assembly, to stop rejecting corps members and instead create mechanisms to accommodate and integrate them into their operations and the broader economic value chain. The lawmakers also mandated the House Committee on Youth Development to liaise with the management of the NYSC and develop a framework for the effective deployment, engagement, and utilisation of corps members during their service year.
