AfriPulse
The Federal Executive Council has approved a major reform of the National Youth Service Corps, introducing wide-ranging changes aimed at modernising the scheme and aligning it with the Federal Government’s economic and youth development priorities.
The approval was granted during Monday’s FEC meeting in Abuja, marking what officials described as the first comprehensive restructuring of the NYSC since its establishment 53 years ago.
One of the major changes announced is a new leadership structure that will place the scheme under civilian administration, while the military will continue to play its role in ensuring the safety and security of corps members across the country.
To support implementation, the council directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to begin amendments to the NYSC Act and other relevant regulations.
Announcing the development via X, Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, said the reform is designed to transform the NYSC into a more practical and future-focused institution.
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According to him, the renewed structure will place stronger emphasis on skills acquisition, productivity and youth empowerment while supporting President Bola Tinubu’s broader economic goals.
Among the approved changes are a digital call-up process, deployment strategies that prioritise corps members’ safety, and a redesigned six-week orientation programme with greater focus on leadership, entrepreneurship, technology and specialised career development.
The reforms also introduce skills-based primary assignments linked to academic qualifications and career interests, upgraded governance under civilian operational leadership, improved camp standards through a grading and certification system, and a new graduation ceremony to replace the traditional Passing Out Parade.
A redesigned NYSC uniform intended to reflect professionalism and national identity was also approved.
Olawande explained that the review process began in 2025 through consultations involving the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, the Federal Ministry of Education and the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination before receiving final approval from the council.
He described the changes as a long-term investment in Nigerian youths and expressed confidence that the new direction would make the NYSC more relevant to current national realities.
Created in 1973 after the Nigerian Civil War to promote national integration, the NYSC has remained a compulsory one-year service programme for graduates deployed outside their states of origin.
Source: Goldmyne.tv | Read the Full Story…
