The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to construct more permanent orientation camps and rehabilitate existing ones to improve the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) experience for prospective corps members.
This resolution followed a motion moved during Thursday’s plenary by Rep. Garba Muhammad, who highlighted the annual influx of thousands of graduates into the NYSC scheme for a three-week orientation program aimed at equipping them with essential skills for national service.
Muhammad noted the poor condition of many NYSC camps and stressed the urgent need for improvement. He expressed concern that some states do not have proper orientation camps, relying instead on temporary facilities such as secondary schools. Others suffer from overcrowding and dilapidated infrastructure, forcing corps members to be relocated to neighbouring states.
He said, “The current state of many orientation camps is inadequate, overstretched, and unable to meet the demands of increasing corps member numbers.”
The House emphasized the importance of spacious, well-equipped camps capable of hosting at least 5,000 participants per state. Lawmakers also underlined the need for modern facilities that will support skill development and long-term national growth.
The motion received overwhelming support and was adopted following a voice vote led by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.
In response, the House urged the Federal Government to partner with state governments to construct new camps and upgrade existing ones. It also tasked the Federal Ministry of Youth, alongside relevant stakeholders, with developing a clear plan for implementation.
Additionally, the Committees on Youth Development and Legislative Compliance were mandated to monitor progress and report back within four weeks.
