President Bola Tinubu has said Nigeria’s current realities require a new direction for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
According to him, recent reforms approved for the scheme are necessary to equip young Nigerians with practical skills and prepare them for national development.
Tinubu disclosed this on Wednesday in a post on his X handle, saying the reforms approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Monday were part of his administration’s commitment to creating opportunities for young people.
His message read, “On Monday, at the Federal Executive Council, our administration approved the most consequential reforms of the National Youth Service Corps Scheme since its establishment in 1973.
“On the day I was sworn in as your President, I promised to create meaningful opportunities for our young people. I said women and youth would feature prominently in our administration, and this reform is partly the actualisation of that promise.”
The president said the NYSC had played an important role in promoting national unity for more than five decades, but changing realities in the country required the scheme to take a new approach.
“For 53 years, the NYSC has served the cause of national unity. That mission remains important and must be preserved. But the Nigeria of today demands more. Our young people are nearly 70 per cent of our population. They are not a burden to be managed… They are the engine,” he said.
Under the reforms, the orientation programme will now run for six weeks and focus on civic responsibility, leadership, values, career readiness, entrepreneurship, digital and financial literacy, as well as specialised training based on participants’ academic backgrounds and career aspirations.
Tinubu said corps members will also receive training in areas including agriculture, health, education, technology, law, public service, infrastructure, the green economy, enterprise, the creative economy and para-military and security services.
He said every corps member must leave the scheme better prepared for work, enterprise and national service.
The president added that the reforms would improve security through risk-based deployment, especially for states facing security challenges.
According to him, the new deployment system will prioritise indigenes, residents, graduates of institutions in affected states and those from neighbouring states within the same geopolitical zones.
He said the call-up process will become technology-driven, while primary assignments will be better matched with corps members’ skills, academic backgrounds and career paths.
Tinubu also announced changes to the leadership structure of the scheme, saying it will now be headed by a civilian Director-General supported by three Executive Directors, including a Security Services Executive Director who will be a military or paramilitary officer.
He said NYSC orientation camps will be assessed under a national grading and certification framework, while states will be required to meet minimum operational standards.
The president further stated that the Passing-Out Parade will become a Graduation Ceremony, as corps members will graduate as trained civic and professional contributors to national development.
He commended the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, his Special Adviser on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, the Federal Ministry of Education and members of the reform committee for their contributions.
Tinubu also directed the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and the Federal Ministry of Justice to begin the amendment of the NYSC Act and subsidiary regulations to provide legal backing for the reforms.
“I have directed the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and the Federal Ministry of Justice to commence the process of amending the NYSC Act and subsidiary regulations to give full legal effect to these reforms,” the president said.
