In a significant policy shift, the Federal Government has announced the lifting of the long-standing restriction on the posting of members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to the private sector.

The directive, effective with the commencement of the 2024 Batch ‘C’ Orientation exercise, was outlined in a memo dated November 18, 2024, by Minister for Youth Development Ayodele Olawande.

The policy change permits corps members to be posted to private sector organizations, including banks and oil and gas companies, marking a departure from the previous framework which confined NYSC postings to the public sector, focusing on education, agriculture, health, and infrastructure.

The previous restriction, implemented during the tenure of former Youth and Sports Development Minister Bolaji Abdullahi, was aimed at preventing private companies from exploiting cheap labor while promoting public sector capacity building. The directive limited corps members’ service opportunities to sectors deemed critical for national development.

The newly introduced policy, according to Olawande, aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s strategy to combat youth unemployment and provide young Nigerians with relevant work experience.

“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,” Olawande noted in the memo.

New Opportunities in the Private Sector

Under the new directive, corps members will now be posted to select private-sector organizations, starting with Lagos and Abuja. The postings will prioritize aligning assignments with the corps members’ fields of study to better prepare them for the labor market.

“This directive will allow corps members to gain valuable experience in their chosen fields of study,” the memo stated. “The now revoked policy has greatly hampered experience gathering that would effectively prepare them for the job market.”

A Step Towards Addressing Youth Unemployment

The policy reversal is being touted as part of President Tinubu’s broader plan to address the alarming rates of youth unemployment in Nigeria. According to the Minister, the move will enhance job preparedness by integrating young graduates into sectors where their skills are in demand.

However, the implementation is set to start in a phased manner, with Lagos and Abuja serving as pilot locations before the directive is extended nationwide.

While the government sees the policy as a means of tackling youth unemployment, concerns remain over how private companies will handle the influx of NYSC members. During Bolaji Abdullahi’s tenure, critics argued that private-sector employers often exploited corps members as a source of inexpensive labor.

Observers will also be watching to see if the government ensures compliance with labor laws and provides oversight to prevent the exploitation of corps members in the private sector.

Stakeholders React

The announcement has sparked mixed reactions. While many youth groups and private sector organizations have welcomed the move as a step in the right direction, critics have questioned whether this policy can truly address the systemic challenges facing the NYSC scheme.

Some have described the decision as long overdue, noting that it’s an opportunity for NYSC members to gain real-world experience and improve their employability.

However, some public sector advocates have expressed reservations. They note that the NYSC was designed to build capacity in underserved sectors, particularly rural areas. This move, they added, could dilute that purpose.

As the 2024 Batch ‘C’ corps members prepare for orientation, all eyes will be on how the new policy is implemented. Will this initiative fulfill its promise of creating meaningful opportunities for Nigeria’s youth, or will it spark new challenges?