THE Federal Executive Council (FEC), at its meeting on Monday, June 29, presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, approved sweeping changes to the law and operations of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.
The proposed reforms, according to the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, however, require amendment to the NYSC Act before they could be implemented.
The changes are aimed at repositioning the scheme into a skills-focused, productivity-driven institution aligned with the Federal Government’s economic agenda.
Olawande, in a post on his X handle, explained that the reform began last year through “a broad-based, multi-stakeholder review involving the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Federal Ministry of Education and Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, and today, that hard work has received the endorsement of the FEC. “We are transforming the Scheme into a platform that not only unites Nigeria, but also equips our young people with the skills, experience and opportunities they need to thrive in a fast-changing world.”
He said FEC also directed the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Federal Ministry of Youth Development to commence the amendment of the NYSC Act and its regulations to give legal effect to the reforms and enable their implementation.
“The one-year service will remain, but it will now incorporate flexible, skills-based training. Graduates enrolled in specialised streams, such as the proposed Digital Corps, may spend additional time in training before deployment in order to obtain professional certifications that enhance employability and support entrepreneurship.
“This is more than a reform of an institution; it is an investment in Nigeria’s greatest asset, our young people. The future of the NYSC begins now, and it is brighter, more relevant and more impactful than ever,” he enthused.
Providing further clarification, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, said the transition to civilian leadership would not diminish the military’s role in ensuring the safety and security of corps members.
According to her: “The security of corps members will remain the responsibility of the Nigerian military. What is changing is the operational leadership of the NYSC, which will now be civilian-led, while the military continues to provide the security architecture necessary for the scheme.”
Usman said the government’s priority was to produce a larger pool of highly skilled graduates, particularly in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), while equipping them with competencies that will enable them to contribute meaningfully to national development.
She added that even where such professionals seek opportunities abroad, the skills and experience they acquire could ultimately benefit Nigeria if they return or invest in the country’s economy.
The proposed changes include the appointment of a civilian director general and executive directors and one directorate; risk-sensitive deployments; skills-based primary assignments that aligned with academic background and career pathways; and a redesigned six-week orientation programme with a stronger focus on leadership, entrepreneurship, digital skills and specialised career streams.
The minister said the call-up process will also be technology-driven, and the government will introduce modern governance with civilian operational leadership, while the military will continue to provide security support, adding that there would be improved camp standards through a national grading and certification system and a new graduation ceremony to replace the Passing Out Parade, as well as a redesigned NYSC uniform that reflects professionalism and national pride.
The scheme since its establishment in 1973, been headed by military officers, mostly of the brigadier general rank. It has in recent years faced several criticisms, with many Nigerians calling for its scrapping, saying it has outlived its usefulness.
Many, especially parents, have criticised the deployment of graduates to states experiencing security challenges and there have been cases of abduction of prospective corps members travelling from their home base to the NYSC camp.
Under the existing law, it is mandatory for all Nigerian graduates under the age of 30 to take part in the scheme.
The scheme was established to promote national unity by deploying graduates to states outside their regions of origin for one year of compulsory national service, following the Nigerian civil war.
