House Worried over NYSC Quota for Mobilisation

Damilola Oyedele in Abuja
The House of Representatives has expressed worry at the reduction of batches of students to be mobilised annually by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), noting that the development would cause hardship for graduated students.

The NYSC reportedly issued a circular to mobilising tertiary institutions to reduce their quota by 70 per cent. It also noted that two batches would be mobilised annually instead of three.
The House noted that the 2016 budget made provision for call up of corps members with a shortfall of about 50,000 students.

Following a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Hon. Raphael Igbokwe (Imo PDP) who warned that the development might lead to major crises in the tertiary education sector.

“Cognisant that the NYSC made request to the presidency for funding of the shortfall which was approved and released through the Ministry of Finance…2016 budget life runs till May 2017,” the lawmaker said.

“This would amount to untold hardship on the part of the graduated students in participating in the NYSC on one hand, and on the other hand, thrown into the excruciating labour marker with no jobs in place,” he added.
The House directed its Committee on Youth Development to look into the matter and report back in a week.