The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the first comprehensive reform of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) since the scheme was established 53 years ago, introducing sweeping changes aimed at modernising its operations and expanding opportunities for corps members.
The reforms were approved during Monday’s FEC meeting presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House in Abuja.
The new measures include the full digitalisation of the NYSC, enhanced security and welfare for corps members, upgraded orientation camps, and a stronger emphasis on skills development, entrepreneurship and employment.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, said the reforms followed an extensive review jointly conducted by the Ministry of Youth Development, the Ministry of Education and the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination.
Established in 1973 to promote national unity after the Nigerian Civil War, the NYSC is now being repositioned to play a broader role in national development.
“The goals are straightforward. We want to build an NYSC beyond mobilisation.
“We are looking and working for stronger partnerships for skill development, job creation, possibilities and national growth,” Olawande said.
As part of the reforms, orientation camps across the country will be upgraded, with state governments expected to provide facilities that meet nationally approved standards.
The minister also announced that the traditional passing-out parade will be replaced with a formal graduation ceremony to reflect the scheme’s expanded focus on skills acquisition and professional development.
He added that corps members’ professional identities and competencies will be formally recognised throughout their service year, while the Federal Government will seek amendments to the NYSC Act to provide the legal framework for the reforms.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, described the initiative as the most far-reaching reform in the history of the scheme.
“This is the first time there has been a holistic reform. The reform areas speak to all the strategic aspects of NYSC, starting from registration, deployment, security considerations, orientation camp structure and skills recognition,” she said.
Usman explained that the reforms align with President Tinubu’s vision of building a $1 trillion economy by equipping Nigerian graduates with market-relevant skills and strengthening the country’s human capital.
She revealed that the orientation programme has been redesigned into a structured six-week exercise.
According to her, the first two weeks will focus on civic responsibility, national values and leadership development, while the following two weeks will cover career mapping, financial literacy, business planning and access to finance.
The final two weeks will provide specialised training tailored to each corps member’s chosen career path.
The reforms also introduce 11 specialised service streams aimed at providing industry-specific training throughout the service year.
The streams include agriculture, medical services, education, technology and digital innovation, legal services, public service, infrastructure, the green economy, enterprise, the creative economy, and paramilitary and security.
The Federal Government said the reforms are designed to transform the NYSC from a mobilisation programme into a platform for youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, employment and national development.
