The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a sweeping reform package for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), introducing a civilian leadership structure, a redesigned uniform and several other measures aimed at repositioning the scheme for greater efficiency and national development.
The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, disclosed the development on Monday while briefing State House correspondents after the weekly FEC meeting.
According to him, the council approved seven major reforms while retaining the one-year mandatory service period. He said the changes are designed to transform the NYSC into a more skills-driven and productivity-focused institution.
Among the approved reforms are a transition from military to civilian operational leadership, the introduction of skills-based training and primary assignments, digitalisation of key processes, and improved governance.
Olawande described the reforms as the first comprehensive review of the NYSC since its establishment in 1973, adding that they were developed through consultations involving the Ministries of Youth Development and Education, as well as the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination.
He said the reforms are intended to promote national unity, expand employment opportunities, strengthen skills development and empower young Nigerians.
“The approved reforms will reposition the NYSC as a skills-driven, productivity-focused and youth-empowering institution that aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of building a $1 trillion economy,” Olawande said.
The reforms also introduce a technology-driven call-up process, risk-sensitive deployment to enhance the safety of corps members, and a redesigned six-week orientation programme with greater emphasis on leadership, entrepreneurship, digital skills and specialised career pathways.
In addition, corps members will be assigned to workplaces based on their academic qualifications and career interests, while military personnel will continue to provide security support despite the shift to civilian operational leadership.
Other approved measures include improved orientation camp standards through a national grading and certification system, the replacement of the traditional passing-out parade with a graduation ceremony, and the introduction of a redesigned NYSC uniform intended to reflect professionalism and national identity.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala-Usman, said specialised groups, including a proposed Digital Corps, could receive additional professional training and certifications before deployment to improve their employability and self-employment prospects.
She reaffirmed that the NYSC would remain a civilian-led programme, with the military continuing to provide security support for corps members.
To facilitate the implementation of the reforms, the FEC directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, to work with the Ministry of Youth Development to amend the NYSC Act and relevant regulations.
