The House of Representatives has directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies, including the National Assembly itself, to stop turning away National Youth Service Corps members deployed to their offices, warning that the growing trend undermines the objectives of the national service scheme and constitutes a waste of public resources.

The resolution was passed following the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Rodney Ebikebina Ambaiowei, who represents the Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency of Bayelsa State, during a plenary session presided over by Speaker Abass Tajudeen.

Moving the motion, Ambaiowei recalled that the NYSC scheme was established in 1973 under 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 for a mandatory one year service.

The lawmaker expressed concern that many government institutions now reject corps members assigned to them, denying graduates the opportunity to acquire practical experience and contribute meaningfully to national development.

"This has left many graduates vulnerable to exploitation by private firms and crime, while wasting the scheme's intended workforce for public and private sectors," Ambaiowei stated.

He 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 productively engaged.

The Green Chamber also urged government institutions to develop structured work schedules that would accommodate corps members and integrate them into public sector productivity and value creation.

Ambaiowei stressed that proper deployment of corps members in government offices would enhance their skills, prepare them for future careers, and improve national productivity.

Following the adoption of the motion, the House mandated its Committee on Youth Development to engage with the management of the NYSC and develop a framework for the effective deployment, engagement, and utilisation of corps members across government institutions during their service year.