The House of Representatives has expressed concern over the growing rejection of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), warning that the trend undermines the objectives of the national service scheme and wastes public resources.

The concern followed a motion sponsored by Hon. Rodney Ebikebina Ambaiowei, who called for an end to the practice of turning away corps members posted to government institutions across the country.

Presenting the motion, at plenary presided by Speaker Abass Tajudeen, Ambaiowei recalled that the NYSC scheme was established in 1973 by the administration of former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, as part of post-civil war efforts to promote national unity, reconciliation and reconstruction.

He noted that the programme was designed to foster national integration by deploying young graduates to states other than their places of origin and residence for a mandatory one-year service.

The lawmaker observed that the scheme has over the years contributed significantly to national cohesion, providing opportunities for graduates to gain work experience, establish businesses, build social networks and integrate into host communities.

He, however, lamented that many government establishments now reject corps members assigned to them, thereby denying the graduates opportunities to acquire practical experience and contribute meaningfully to national development.

According to him, the trend leaves many corps members vulnerable to exploitation by private employers and exposure to criminal activities, while also depriving both the public and private sectors of a potentially productive workforce.

Ambaiowei further argued that the rejection of corps members amounts to a waste of public funds, as the government continues to pay monthly stipends to graduates who are not effectively engaged in productive activities.

He stressed that proper deployment and utilisation of corps members in government offices would not only provide valuable workplace experience but also improve career prospects for young graduates and enhance national productivity.

The House resolved to urge all MDAs, including the National Assembly, to stop rejecting corps members and instead create mechanisms to accommodate and integrate them into their operations and the broader economic value chain.

The lawmakers also mandated the House Committee on Youth Development to liaise with the management of the NYSC and develop a framework for the effective deployment, engagement and utilisation of corps members during their service year.