By Our Reporter
The federal government has revoked all previous directives regarding posting restrictions in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
A memo dated November 18, 2024, from the Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, to the NYSC Director General, stated that this lifting of restrictions will take effect from the start date of the 2024 Batch ‘C Orientation Course.
Olawande stated that the ministerial directive aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s mandate to ensure all government ministries, agencies, and parastatals operate in harmony with the administration’s overall vision.
The minister said President Tinubu was “highly concerned about the rising rate of youth unemployment.”
“As a result, he expects the Ministry of Youth Development and its affiliated agencies to take a leading role in addressing the issue,” the minister said in a statement issued by the Director of Information and Public Relations in the ministry, Omolara Esan on Tuesday in Abuja.
The minister said that the current National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) posting policy, established during the tenure of former Minister Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, limited postings to four sectors: Education, Agriculture, Health, and Infrastructure.
He said the argument of the former minister at the time was that while the government was funding the NYSC, many private sector organisations were no longer employed because of the easy access to cheap corps labour, adding that the former minister was largely right, moreover, he said, the fact that many corps members who require specialised training in their areas of study are limited by the posting policy has greatly hampered experience gathering that would effectively prepare them for the job market.
“Therefore, as we battle the unemployment crisis, 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 in accordance with 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.
“I hereby revoke all previous directives relating to posting restrictions with effect from the date of commencement of the 2024 Batch ‘C Orientation Course.
“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 minister said