By Chinedu Echianu
The Federal Government has approved a comprehensive reform of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), introducing far-reaching changes aimed at transforming the scheme into a civilian-led, skills-oriented and productivity-driven institution aligned with Nigeria’s economic development goals.
The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Wisdom, announced the approval on Tuesday to State House Correspondents after the FEC meeting, saying the reform framework had received the endorsement of the Federal Executive Council following an extensive review of the scheme.
According to the minister, the review was undertaken by the Ministry of Youth Development in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination to address longstanding challenges facing the NYSC.
He said the reforms are designed to reposition the scheme beyond its traditional mobilisation role by prioritising skills acquisition, job creation, employability and national development.
Olawande explained that the reforms also provide for the digitalisation of corps members’ records, improved security measures, better welfare systems and upgraded orientation camp facilities across the country.
He added that state governments would be required to meet minimum standards for orientation camps, while the traditional parade at the end of orientation would be redesigned into a formal graduation ceremony.
The minister further disclosed that the government would work towards amending the NYSC Act to provide the necessary legal backing for the reforms.
Speaking on the initiative, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, described the reforms as the first holistic restructuring of the NYSC since its establishment in 1973.
She said the reforms are intended to reposition the scheme as a key contributor to the Federal Government’s ambition of building a one trillion-dollar economy through enhanced human capital development.
According to Usman, the reforms cover virtually every aspect of the scheme, including registration, deployment, security considerations, orientation camp activities and post-service employability.
She explained that corps members would now be profiled according to their academic background, interests and skill sets before being assigned to specialised career streams.
As part of the new structure, the six-week orientation programme will be divided into three phases.
The first two weeks will focus on civic responsibility, national values and leadership development.
The second phase will cover career mapping, financial literacy, business planning, entrepreneurship and access to finance, alongside a structured career engagement programme with employers.
The final two weeks will provide specialised training based on each corps member’s selected career stream.
Usman said the government has created 11 specialised streams under the reformed NYSC programme. They include Agriculture, Medical, Education, Technology and Digital, Legal, Public Service, Infrastructure, Green Economy, Enterprise, Creative Economy, and Paramilitary and Security.
She explained that prospective corps members would choose their preferred stream during registration, after which they would receive targeted training relevant to their chosen field.
According to her, the reforms are intended to produce graduates with practical skills that meet the country’s workforce needs while improving their employability and capacity to contribute to national development.
Usman said President Bola Tinubu’s approval of the reforms demonstrates the administration’s commitment to equipping Nigerian youths with the skills required to drive economic growth and support the government’s long-term development objectives.
