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President Bola Tinubu has said the Federal Government approved sweeping reforms to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to better equip young Nigerians with practical skills and prepare them for national development.
The President said the reforms, approved by the Federal Executive Council on Monday, also fulfil his administration’s pledge to create greater opportunities for youths across the country.
Tinubu made this known in a statement posted on his X handle on Wednesday, describing the changes as the most significant overhaul of the NYSC scheme since its establishment in 1973.
He said, “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 recalled that on the day of his inauguration, he pledged to prioritise young people and women, noting that the reforms are part of efforts to fulfil that commitment.
“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,” Tinubu stated.
While acknowledging the NYSC’s contribution to national unity over the past 53 years, the President said the country’s evolving realities require the scheme to be repositioned to meet present-day demands.
“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.
Emphasising the importance of Nigeria’s youth population, Tinubu added, “Our young people are nearly 70 per cent of our population. They are not a burden to be managed… They are the engine.”
Under the reforms, the orientation programme will now last six weeks and include training in civic responsibility, leadership, entrepreneurship, career readiness, digital and financial literacy, as well as specialised courses tailored to corps members’ academic backgrounds and career aspirations.
According to the President, participants will also receive training in agriculture, healthcare, education, technology, law, public service, infrastructure, the green and creative economies, enterprise, as well as paramilitary and security services.
He stressed that “Every corps member must leave NYSC better prepared for work, enterprise and national service.”
Tinubu further disclosed that the reforms introduce a risk-based deployment system to improve the safety of corps members, particularly in states facing security challenges. Under the new arrangement, deployment will prioritise indigenes, residents, graduates of institutions in affected states and those from neighbouring states within the same geopolitical zones.
He added, “The call-up process will become technology-driven and primary assignments will be better aligned with each corps member’s skills, academic background and career stream.”
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 said orientation camps would be assessed under a national grading and certification framework, while states would be required to meet minimum operational standards.
Announcing another key change, the President said, “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.”
Tinubu 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 contributions to the initiative.
He also directed the Federal Ministries of Youth Development and Justice to begin the process of amending the NYSC Act and its subsidiary regulations to provide legal backing for the reforms.
Addressing Nigerian youths, 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.”
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