Volunteering in Government Agencies: A Blessing or Barrier to Employment Opportunities in Nigeria? -By Marvelous Johnson Ngada

In Nigeria today, the issue of youth unemployment has become a national concern. Every year, our tertiary institutions produce thousands of graduates who join the already overflowing labor market. Unfortunately, job opportunities—especially in government ministries, departments, and agencies—remain limited, leaving many young Nigerians either underemployed or jobless. In the midst of this crisis, the increasing reliance on volunteers in federal and state government agencies has emerged as a double-edged sword.

Volunteering in itself is a noble activity. It involves individuals offering their time, skills, and effort to support the functions of organizations without immediate financial reward. In government settings, volunteers often fill administrative, technical, and field roles, contributing to public service delivery in sectors like education, healthcare, agriculture, and environmental management. Their presence helps reduce workload, improve service delivery, and bring fresh ideas into the public sector.

Many of these volunteers are young graduates themselves—eager to gain experience and remain active while searching for permanent employment. They use their academic qualifications, knowledge, and passion to perform duties that are often critical to the success of government programs. Their contributions, in many cases, cannot be overemphasized.

However, a deeper look reveals a growing challenge: volunteerism is now replacing proper employment in many government offices. Ministries and agencies, instead of employing qualified graduates into permanent roles, now depend on volunteers who work for free or for very little compensation. This trend has created a system where young people are trapped in years of unpaid or low-paid labor with no guarantee of future employment.

This situation is particularly alarming when considered alongside Nigeria’s rising graduate population. With universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education churning out graduates every year, the pressure on the labor market increases. Sadly, many of these graduates are told there are “no vacancies,” even as their roles are being filled by volunteers. This effectively blocks the pathway to meaningful employment, leading to frustration, poverty, and, in some cases, crime or illegal migration.

Moreover, some government agencies now rely on these volunteers as a cost-saving strategy. Since volunteers do not require salaries, pensions, or benefits, agencies view them as a way to maintain operations without stretching their budgets. While this might seem practical in the short term, it is not a sustainable or fair solution. It promotes exploitation, breeds job insecurity, and undermines the dignity of labor.

There is also the emotional and psychological toll on volunteers. Many of them serve full-time roles for years, with the hope that they will be absorbed into the civil service. Sadly, most of them are replaced by new volunteers without any form of recognition or reward. The cycle continues, and more graduates are forced to follow the same path, creating a backlog of unemployed but experienced young people.

Another downside is that this overreliance on volunteers creates a false sense of employment statistics. Government agencies may appear “fully staffed” on paper because roles are filled, yet the individuals performing the tasks have no official employment status. This distorts the national employment data and weakens policy decisions around youth empowerment and job creation.

To solve this growing problem, the Nigerian government must take urgent steps. Firstly, there should be a clear and regulated framework for volunteer service in government institutions. Volunteering should be time-bound—no more than 6 to 12 months—and volunteers should be given stipends, training, and certificates upon completion of service. Most importantly, there should be a pathway to formal employment for outstanding volunteers.

Secondly, government at all levels must invest in recruiting permanent staff. This means increasing budgetary allocation to the public service and prioritizing employment creation in national planning. Qualified volunteers should be the first considered when recruitment opens. This would not only reward their service but also reduce the number of jobless youths.

Thirdly, the civil service commission should collaborate with the Ministry of Labour and other relevant bodies to track volunteer data. This information can be used to create a national talent database, helping match skilled individuals to available job openings across the country. This approach ensures that volunteering becomes a bridge to employment, not a replacement for it.

Furthermore, public sensitization is needed. Many young people are unaware of their rights and the risks of long-term unpaid labor. Government and civil society should educate graduates on how to leverage volunteering for skill-building while also advocating for fair treatment and employment opportunities.

While volunteers have played vital roles in the development and functioning of government institutions, their increasing presence should not come at the cost of employment opportunities for millions of Nigerian graduates. As our nation faces a serious unemployment crisis, now is the time to rethink how we use volunteerism in the public sector. With the right policies and investment in youth employment, Nigeria can turn its human capital into a strong driver of national growth and stability.

Marvelous Johnson Ngada student of Mass communication Borno state University, Maiduguri