The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has shed light on its decision to exclude banks, oil companies, and other high-profile private organizations from serving as Places of Primary Assignment (PPA) for corps members.
Officials of the scheme said the policy, though often criticized by graduates seeking prestigious placements, was designed to protect corps members, prevent exploitation, and ensure the programme delivers on its original mandate of national service and grassroots development.
NYSC authorities pointed to a history of exploitation in the private sector, especially banks and oil firms, where corps members were subjected to long working hours, heavy workloads, and tasks beyond their training, often without adequate compensation.
“The scheme is about service, not cheap labour,” one senior official explained, noting that corps members had been treated unfairly in such organizations.
The Corps also raised concerns over welfare and security. Oil companies, for instance, sometimes required corps members to work in offshore or high-risk environments, while the banking sector’s late closing hours exposed them to robbery and stress-related health issues.
Another reason was the abuse of influence. Corps members with connections or financial backing often manipulated postings to land lucrative bank or oil company slots, while others were left behind. This, NYSC said, undermined fairness and the integrity of the scheme.
The programme insists its core mission is community development, not profit-making ventures. By posting graduates to schools, ministries, and rural communities, NYSC believes their impact is more visible and socially valuable.
According to the scheme, channeling corps members into education, health, agriculture, and government institutions ensures manpower is directed where Nigeria needs it most. Without such restrictions, officials warned, rural areas and schools would face severe shortages.
While many corps members still desire prestigious corporate postings, NYSC says the exclusion policy is here to stay. The Corps insists it is a necessary reform to safeguard corps members and restore the scheme to its founding vision—unity, fairness, and service to the nation.
