- How Some Employers Turn NYSC Corps Members Into Cheap Labour
The National Youth Service Corps programme is expected to be a period of learning, contribution and professional development.
But for some corps members, the experience has become a difficult struggle between serving the nation and working in environments where they are treated more as cheap labour than young professionals.
EDITOR’S PICKS
- Olodo Uprising: Sanwo-Olu Advises Youths to Embrace Knowledge, Curiosity
- BBN Season 11 Kicks Off with Unveiling of 24 Housemates Competing for ₦160m Grand Prize
- Why Africa Must Stop Exporting Raw Materials, Lessons From Benin for Nigeria
Let me explain, across different workplaces, some employers regard corps members as free workers, well because their monthly allowance is paid by the government. This perception has created situations where some organisations request large numbers of corps members, reducing their labour costs while placing little emphasis on the welfare, training or professional growth of those serving.
The problem becomes worse when corps members are assigned workloads similar to permanent employees without receiving comparable support. Some are required to work even beyond normal working hours and take on responsibilities outside their expected roles.
When you ask employers, it’s simple: the government already pays the corps member, so they are supposed to work. But does government payment remove an employer’s responsibility to provide a fair and reasonable working environment?
The answer should not be left to individual interpretation.
Aside financial compensation, employers are supposed to contribute significantly to the development of corps members, with mentorship, professional training, workplace exposure and opportunities to acquire practical skills. Yet, some organisations treat corps members as temporary replacements, yes they may have a few months to spend in the organisation, but it should also count as a period of learning, training and growth, this is the whole essence of the service.
The situation is made worse by the limited knowledge many corps members have about their rights and the boundaries of their responsibilities. A young graduate who is eager to gain experience may hesitate to question an employer, even when the workload becomes excessive, because of fears that speaking up could affect their assessment or place of primary assignment.
This creates an imbalance of power.
The NYSC scheme therefore needs to strengthen the guidance available to both employers and corps members. Before corps members are deployed to organisations, employers should receive clear and accessible guidelines explaining their responsibilities, working expectations and welfare obligations.
There should be reliable panel with the NYSC Local Governments for such investigations, rather than dismissing corp members complains in such situations.
If corps members are expected to contribute to organisations during their service year, those organisations should also recognise their humanity, protect their welfare and contribute to their growth.
The value of national service should not be measured only by how much work a corps member can deliver, but also by what the experience adds to the young person’s future.
