President Bola Tinubu has defended the Federal Government’s newly approved reforms to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), saying they are designed to equip young Nigerians with practical skills and prepare them for nation-building.
The President said the reforms, approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Monday, represent the most significant overhaul of the NYSC scheme since its establishment in 1973.
In a statement shared on his official X account on Wednesday, Tinubu said the reforms fulfil a key campaign promise to create meaningful opportunities for Nigeria’s youth.
“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.
“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 acknowledged the role the NYSC has played in promoting national unity over the past five decades but stressed that the country’s evolving realities require a more modern and impactful programme.
“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.
“Our young people are nearly 70 per cent of our population. They are not a burden to be managed. They are the engine,” he stated.
Under the new reforms, the NYSC orientation programme will be extended to six weeks and redesigned to focus on civic responsibility, leadership development, national values, career readiness, entrepreneurship, digital literacy, financial literacy and specialised training tailored to participants’ academic backgrounds and career aspirations.
The President said corps members would receive sector-specific training in agriculture, healthcare, education, technology, law, public service, infrastructure, the green economy, enterprise, the creative industry, as well as paramilitary and security services.
Tinubu also announced measures aimed at improving the safety of corps members, particularly those posted to security-challenged areas.
He explained that a new risk-based deployment system would prioritise posting indigenes, residents, graduates of institutions located in affected states and those from neighbouring states within the same geopolitical zone.
According to him, the mobilisation process will become technology-driven, while primary assignments will be better aligned with each corps member’s qualifications, skills and career interests.
“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,” he said.
As part of the restructuring, the President disclosed that the NYSC will now be headed by a civilian Director-General, supported by three Executive Directors.
One of the Executive Directors will oversee security matters and will be drawn from the military or a paramilitary agency.
Tinubu added that orientation camps across the country would be evaluated under a national grading and certification framework, while state governments would be required to meet minimum operational standards.
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 contributions to the initiative.
He also directed the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and the Federal Ministry of Justice to begin the process of amending the NYSC Act and its subsidiary regulations to provide legal backing for the approved reforms.
