The House of Representatives has called on government ministries, departments and agencies across the country to stop refusing National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members assigned to them for their mandatory service year.
The lawmakers made the appeal after adopting a motion presented during Thursday’s plenary session by Hon. Rodney Ebikebina Ambaiowei.
While presenting the motion, Ambaiowei expressed concern over the increasing number of public institutions turning away corps members posted to their offices, describing the situation as harmful to both the graduates and the nation.
He noted that many young graduates depend on their service year to gain practical experience, develop professional skills and contribute meaningfully to public service.
According to him, when government agencies reject corps members, many are left without productive assignments and are forced to seek alternatives, sometimes under unfavourable conditions.
The lawmaker warned that the trend exposes corps members to exploitation by private organisations and may leave some vulnerable to criminal influences due to lack of meaningful engagement during the service period.
He also pointed out that the development places an unnecessary burden on government resources, as corps members continue to receive monthly allowances despite not being properly utilised in their places of primary assignment.
Ambaiowei argued that such practices defeat the purpose of the NYSC programme, which was established to promote national unity, youth development and workforce experience.
After debating the motion, the House resolved that all ministries, departments and agencies, including the National Assembly and its institutions, should accept corps members posted to them and provide opportunities for them to contribute effectively.
Lawmakers further advised public institutions to create structured work plans that would allow corps members to participate actively in their daily operations and maximise their abilities.
In addition, the House directed its Committee on Youth Development to work closely with the Director-General of the NYSC to design a more effective system that ensures corps members are properly engaged and their talents fully utilised throughout their service year.
The lawmakers stressed that strengthening the participation of corps members in public institutions would not only benefit the graduates but also support national development and improve service delivery across government establishments.