Stop rejecting corps members, Reps tell MDAs

The House of Representatives on Thursday urged Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government to stop rejecting members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) posted to them for their mandatory one-year national service. The resolution followed a motion by Rodney Ebikebina Ambaiowei during plenary on Thursday. Ambaiowei expressed concern that many government establishments now […]

The House of Representatives on Thursday urged Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government to stop rejecting members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) posted to them for their mandatory one-year national service.

The resolution followed a motion by Rodney Ebikebina Ambaiowei during plenary on Thursday.

Ambaiowei expressed concern that many government establishments now reject corps members posted to them, thereby denying the young graduates opportunities to gain practical experience and contribute meaningfully to national development.

He said the situation had left many corps members vulnerable to exploitation by private organisations and exposed some to criminal activities due to a lack of proper engagement.

Ambaiowei further said the rejection of corps members amounts to a waste of public resources since the government continues to pay monthly stipends to graduates who are not effectively utilised.

He warned that the trend could undermine the objectives of the NYSC scheme and discourage future graduates from participating actively in the programme.

Adopting the motion, the House urged all MDAs, including the National Assembly, to desist from rejecting corps members and instead develop work schedules that would accommodate and integrate them into their operations.

The House also mandated its Committee on Youth Development to liaise with the Director-General of the NYSC to develop a framework for the effective engagement of corps members and harness their potential during the service year.