Lagos, Abuja Corps Members Now Eligible To Serve In Banks, Oil And Gas Companies As FG Revokes Restriction

The Federal Government has revoked the policy limiting the posting of members of the National Youth Service Corps to the public sector, allowing for them to now be posted to private sector organisations, including banks and oil and gas companies.

This was contained in a memo issued by the Minister for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, dated November 18, 2024.

As contained in the memo, the new policy directive will take effect with the commencement of the 2024 Batch ‘C’ Orientation exercise and with corps members posted to Lagos and Abuja.

Theliberationnews observed that the previous policy put in place when Bolaji Abdullahi held sway as the Minister for Youth and Sports Development was aimed at discouraging private companies from exploiting cheap labour while promoting public sector capacity building, restricted corps members to only four sectors of the economy, including education, agriculture, health, and infrastructure.

Olawande said the new policy follows President Bola Tinubu’s strategy to combat rising youth unemployment by ensuring that government agencies align with the vision of his administration, adding that the directive will initially take effect in Lagos and Abuja.

He expressed optimism that the new new policy would also allow the corps member to gain valuable experience in their chosen fields of study, noting that the previous policy hindered Nigerian youths from gaining experiences that would prepare them for the labour market.

The memo read in parts, “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 per 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. 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 now revoked policy has greatly hampered experience gathering that would effectively prepare them for the job market.”