The Federal Government has lifted the ban restricting the posting of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members to private sector organizations, opening opportunities for corps members to be posted to industries like banking and oil and gas.
In a memo dated November 18, 2024, Minister for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, announced that the new policy will take effect with the commencement of the 2024 Batch ‘C’ Orientation exercise. This move reverses a policy introduced during the tenure of former Minister Bolaji Abdullahi, which limited corps members’ postings to public sector roles in education, agriculture, health, and infrastructure. The previous restriction aimed to curb private sector exploitation of cheap labor while enhancing public sector capacity building.
Olawande explained that the updated policy aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s strategy to tackle rising youth unemployment and ensure government programs support his administration’s vision. He noted that the initiative will begin in Lagos and Abuja.
“The revised policy is designed to provide corps members with opportunities to gain experience in their chosen fields of study, addressing a gap that previously hindered Nigerian youths from preparing for the labor market,” Olawande stated.
The memo emphasized the need for postings to align with corps members’ areas of study and outlined the directive for placements in select private sector organizations. The policy, effective from the start of the 2024 Batch ‘C’ Orientation Course, aims to broaden corps members’ exposure and equip them with relevant skills for future employment.