The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has greenlit the first-ever comprehensive reform of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) since its establishment 53 years ago.
This landmark restructuring aims to modernize the scheme, transitioning it into a productivity-focused institution centered on youth skill acquisition.
The decision was finalized on Monday during the FEC session chaired by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House, Abuja.
At a post-meeting media briefing, the Minister of Youth Development, Mr. Ayodele Olawande, noted that the reform follows an in-depth review of the scheme, which was founded in 1973 to promote national integration after the Nigerian civil war.
He described the approval as a landmark in the scheme’s history, noting that the review was undertaken jointly by the Ministry of Youth Development, the Ministry of Education, and the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination.
According to the minister, the reform is designed to reposition the NYSC beyond mobilisation into a platform for skills development, job creation, entrepreneurship and stronger national cohesion.
“The goals are simple and 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.
He disclosed that the reforms include the full digitalisation of the scheme’s operations, enhanced security and welfare measures for corps members, and improved attention to their special needs.
The minister also said the council approved the upgrading of orientation camps nationwide, with state governments expected to provide facilities that meet clearly defined national standards.
He added that the traditional passing-out parade would be redesigned into a formal graduation ceremony to reflect the expanded training and skills acquisition programme.
Olawande further revealed that corps members’ professional identities and skills would now be recognised throughout their service year, while the Federal Government would initiate amendments to the NYSC Act to give legal backing to the reforms.
Providing further details, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, described the reform as holistic and unprecedented, saying it covers virtually every aspect of the NYSC’s operations.
She explained that the reforms are intended to align the scheme with President Tinubu’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy by strengthening Nigeria’s human capital and equipping graduates with market-relevant skills.
“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 said the government had redesigned the orientation programme into a structured six-week exercise.
She explained that the first two weeks would focus on civic responsibility, national values and leadership development, while the next two weeks would cover career mapping, financial literacy, business planning and access to finance.
According to her, the final two weeks will provide specialised training tailored to each corps member’s chosen career pathway.
As part of the reform, she announced the creation of 11 specialised corps streams through which graduates will receive additional professional training based on their academic background, interests and skills.
The streams include Agriculture, Medical, Education, Technology and Digital, Legal, Public Service, Infrastructure, Green Economy, Enterprise, Creative Economy, and Paramilitary and Security.
She said every corps member would be required to select one of the streams upon registration and would receive specialised training throughout the orientation programme in preparation for future employment and national service.
Usman noted that the reforms also review deployment procedures, including how corps members are posted across states, with greater consideration for prevailing security realities
She described the approval as one of the boldest reforms undertaken by the Tinubu administration in the youth sector.
The reformed NYSC will remain a civilian-led institution with a renewed emphasis on skills acquisition, productivity and workforce development to better prepare Nigerian graduates to contribute to national development and economic growth, she said.
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