In a significant policy shift, the Federal Government has announced the removal of restrictions on where National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members can be posted, allowing them to serve in private sector organizations, including banks and oil and gas companies.
According to a memo from the Minister for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, dated November 18, 2024, the policy change will take effect with the 2024 Batch ‘C’ Orientation exercise. This move marks a departure from the previous policy under former Minister Bolaji Abdullahi, which limited corps members to four key economic sectors—education, agriculture, health, and infrastructure.
Minister Olawande explained that the new policy is part of President Bola Tinubu’s broader strategy to address youth unemployment and better align the NYSC program with the needs of the modern job market.
The previous restrictions, while aimed at preventing private sector exploitation and bolstering public sector capacity, often left corps members without the opportunity to gain relevant experience in their fields of study.
“There is an urgent need to review this policy to expand opportunities for corps members to serve in places that align with their areas of study,” the memo states.
The revised directive includes:
- Lifting all restrictions on NYSC postings.
- Aligning postings with corps members’ courses of study.
- Expanding postings to select banks and private sector organizations, including oil and gas companies, beginning with Lagos and Abuja.
Implementation and Expected Impact
This policy shift will allow corps members to develop specialized skills in industries critical to Nigeria’s economic development, enhancing their employability.
Olawande noted:
“The now-revoked policy greatly hampered experience gathering that would effectively prepare corps members for the job market.”
This initiative aligns with the administration’s efforts to strengthen partnerships with the private sector while addressing the challenges of youth unemployment and underemployment.
