The Federal Government has approved the most comprehensive reform of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) since its establishment in 1973, replacing military leadership with a civilian Director-General and introducing sweeping structural changes aimed at transforming the scheme into a skills-driven national development programme.
The reforms were approved on Monday during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The approval also includes restructuring the one-year national service into 11 specialised skills-based streams, redesigning the orientation camp programme and NYSC uniform, and commencing amendments to the NYSC Act to provide legal backing for the reforms.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, said the reform process began in 2025 with the constitution of a committee to undertake a comprehensive review of the scheme.
According to him, the review revealed several challenges, including outdated legislation, weak connections between higher education and employment opportunities, and concerns over the safety and welfare of corps members.
“The NYSC was created in 1973 to promote national unity after the civil war. For 53 years, it has helped bring together Nigerian graduates and strengthen national unity. But today, our needs as a country have changed, and many expect the objectives of NYSC to also change,” the minister said.
The Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, described the initiative as the first holistic reform of the NYSC in its 53-year history, adding that it aligns with the Federal Government’s ambition of building a one-trillion-dollar economy.
She explained that every prospective corps member will now select one of 11 specialised streams during registration based on academic qualifications, interests and skills profile.
The streams include Agriculture, Medical, Education, Technology and Digital, Legal, Public Service, Infrastructure, Green, Enterprise, Creative Economy, and Paramilitary and Security.
Under the new arrangement, the orientation programme will be expanded into a structured six-week curriculum divided into three phases.
The first phase will focus on civic responsibility, national values and leadership development, while the second will cover career planning, financial literacy, business development and access to finance. The final phase will provide specialised training tailored to each participant’s selected stream.
Usman noted that participants in programmes requiring extended certification, particularly within the Technology and Digital stream, could remain in structured training for up to six months instead of proceeding immediately to their places of primary assignment.
“We want them to have skills that will enable them to be self-employed,” she said.
The new administrative structure will be headed by a civilian Director-General, supported by three Executive Directors, while a military or paramilitary officer will continue to oversee the scheme’s security directorate.
According to Usman, the military will retain responsibility for ensuring the safety of corps members across the country, while operational and administrative leadership will now be handled by civilian professionals.
She also disclosed that the traditional Passing-Out Parade will be redesigned and renamed a graduation ceremony, while the NYSC uniform will be modernised to project a more professional identity without losing its distinctive character.
The Attorney-General of the Federation has been directed to work with the Ministry of Youth Development to amend the NYSC Act and other relevant regulations to give immediate legal effect to the approved reforms.
On the issue of brain drain, Usman said the reforms were designed to equip young Nigerians with globally competitive skills while encouraging them to contribute meaningfully to national development.
She added that the government aims to transform the NYSC into a platform that promotes productivity, entrepreneurship, innovation and youth empowerment, while supporting long-term economic growth.