The House of Representatives has asked the federal government, through the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), to develop a database to track the employment status of graduates and corps members in the country.
The lawmakers said such a database is essential for evidence-based decision-making in tackling unemployment.
The legislators specifically asked the ministries — youth and sports development, labour and employment, education, humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development — to develop a workable plan that would ensure corps members are retained in their Primary Place of Assignment (PPA) for one year after their mandatory service to “allow graduates to find employment opportunities”.
The lower legislative chamber passed the resolution during the plenary session on Tuesday following the adoption of a motion sponsored by Muhammad Muktar.
While moving the motion, Muktar said after serving in the mandatory National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) scheme, most graduates find it difficult to face the reality of not receiving monthly allowances or other privileges.
He said the transition of corps members from the programme to the labour market without any allowances to support them is fraught with challenges.
The legislator said helping graduates to enter and remain in the labour market should be an important part of government policies.
Muktar stressed that the rate of unemployment will continue to rise due to slow economic growth and the inability of the economy to absorb the four to five million new entrants into the Nigerian market annually.
