The Federal Government has approved a major overhaul of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), introducing wide-ranging reforms aimed at transforming the scheme into a skills-driven and productivity-focused institution.
The decision was approved on Monday during a meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in Abuja, marking the first comprehensive restructuring of the NYSC since its establishment 53 years ago.
Among the key changes is a new leadership structure that will see a civilian head the NYSC, replacing the long-standing military leadership. However, the military will continue to provide security support for corps members across the country.
To facilitate the implementation of the reforms, the FEC directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to amend the NYSC Act and other relevant regulations.
Announcing the development on X, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, described the initiative as the first holistic review of the scheme since its creation in 1973.
According to him, the reforms are designed to equip young Nigerians with practical skills and opportunities while strengthening the scheme’s role in national development.
Olawande said the revamped NYSC would support President Bola Tinubu’s vision of building a $1 trillion economy by placing greater emphasis on skills acquisition, entrepreneurship and productivity.
The approved reforms include a technology-driven call-up system, risk-based deployment of corps members to enhance safety, and a redesigned six-week orientation programme focused on leadership, entrepreneurship, digital skills and specialised career development.
Other measures include aligning primary assignments with graduates’ academic backgrounds and career paths, introducing civilian operational leadership, improving orientation camp facilities through a national grading and certification system, replacing the traditional Passing Out Parade with a new graduation ceremony, and unveiling a redesigned NYSC uniform to reflect professionalism and national pride.
Olawande explained that the reform 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 FEC.
He described the initiative as a major investment in Nigeria’s youth, expressing confidence that the reforms would make the NYSC more relevant, impactful and better positioned to meet the country’s evolving economic and development needs.
Established in 1973 after the Nigerian Civil War, the NYSC was created to promote national unity by deploying graduates to states outside their regions of origin for one year of compulsory national service. The latest reforms represent the most significant changes to the scheme since its inception.
