By Deborah Nnamdi
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a comprehensive overhaul of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), introducing civilian leadership for the scheme and extending the orientation camp programme from three to six weeks.
The reforms, approved during Monday’s FEC meeting in Abuja, represent the first major review of the 53-year-old scheme since its establishment in 1973.
Under the new structure, the NYSC will be headed by civilian leadership, while the military will continue to provide security support for corps members nationwide. The council also directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to amend the NYSC Act and other relevant regulations to provide legal backing for the changes.
Briefing journalists after the meeting at the Presidential Villa, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, said the reforms are aimed at transforming the NYSC into a skills-driven and productivity-focused institution that aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of building a $1 trillion economy.
According to the minister, the reforms will introduce a technology-driven call-up process, risk-sensitive deployment to enhance the safety of corps members, and a redesigned six-week orientation programme with greater emphasis on leadership, entrepreneurship, digital skills and specialised career training.
He added that corps members will also be assigned to primary places of assignment based on their academic qualifications, professional skills and career aspirations to improve productivity and relevance.
Other changes include the introduction of a national grading and certification system for orientation camps, a new graduation ceremony to replace the traditional Passing Out Parade, and a redesigned NYSC uniform intended to promote professionalism and national pride.
Olawande disclosed that the reform process began in 2025 following 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.
Describing the initiative as a landmark investment in the country’s future, he said, “This is more than a reform of an institution. It is an investment in Nigeria’s greatest asset—our young people.”
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, said the reforms cover every aspect of the NYSC’s structure and operations.
She explained that corps members will now be deployed across 11 specialised streams based on their academic background, skills and career interests. The streams include agriculture, education, medical services, technology and digital services, legal services, public service, infrastructure, the green economy, enterprise, the creative economy, and paramilitary and security.
Usman further disclosed that the six-week orientation programme will be divided into three phases. The first two weeks will focus on civic responsibility, national values and leadership, the next two weeks will cover financial literacy, business planning, career development and access to finance, while the final two weeks will provide specialised training tailored to each corps member’s chosen career stream.
Established in the aftermath of the Nigerian Civil War to foster national unity and integration, the NYSC is expected to play a broader role in youth empowerment, skills development and economic growth under the newly approved reforms.
