By Chinedu Echianu
President Bola Tinubu has explained that the recently approved reforms to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) are designed to equip young Nigerians with practical skills, enhance their employability, and prepare them for greater contributions to national development.
The President said the reforms, approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Monday, fulfil his administration’s commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for young people across the country.
Tinubu made this known in a statement shared on his X account on Wednesday, describing the changes as the most significant overhaul of the NYSC scheme since its establishment in 1973.
“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,” the President said.
He recalled his inaugural promise to prioritise youth and women in governance, noting that the reforms represent a major step towards fulfilling that pledge.
“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,” he stated.
Tinubu acknowledged the role the NYSC has played in fostering national unity over the past five decades but stressed that evolving national realities require a more dynamic 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,” he said.
The President noted that with young people accounting for nearly 70 per cent of Nigeria’s population, they should be seen as a driving force for development rather than a challenge to manage.
“Our young people are nearly 70 per cent of our population. They are not a burden to be managed. They are the engine,” he added.
Under the new reforms, the NYSC orientation programme will be extended from three weeks to six weeks. The expanded curriculum will focus on civic responsibility, leadership, national values, career readiness, entrepreneurship, digital and financial literacy, as well as specialised training aligned with participants’ academic backgrounds and career aspirations.
Tinubu said corps members would receive sector-specific training in agriculture, health, education, technology, law, public service, infrastructure, the green economy, enterprise, the creative economy, and para-military and security services.
“Every corps member must leave NYSC better prepared for work, enterprise and national service,” he said.
The President also announced new measures to improve the safety of corps members through a risk-based deployment policy, particularly for security-challenged states.
According to him, deployment will prioritise indigenes, residents, graduates of institutions located in affected states, and those from neighbouring states within the same geopolitical zones.
He added that the mobilisation process would become technology-driven, while primary assignments would be aligned with each corps member’s skills, academic qualifications and career interests.
On the administration of the scheme, Tinubu said the NYSC would now be headed by a civilian Director-General, supported by three Executive Directors, including a Security Services Executive Director drawn from the military or paramilitary.
He also disclosed that orientation camps would be assessed under a national grading and certification framework, with state governments required to meet minimum operational standards.
In another major change, Tinubu said the traditional Passing-Out Parade would be replaced with a Graduation Ceremony to reflect the expanded training corps members would receive.
“The Passing-Out Parade will become a Graduation Ceremony because our corps members will no longer merely complete service. They will graduate as trained civic and professional contributors to national development,” he said.
The President 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 roles in developing the initiative.
He further directed the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and the Federal Ministry of Justice to commence the process of amending the NYSC Act and relevant subsidiary regulations to provide legal backing for the reforms.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to the nation’s youth, Tinubu said, “To every young Nigerian: this nation believes in you. We are building a country worthy of your talent, your ambition and your future.”
