The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved sweeping reforms to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), including the cancellation of the traditional Passing-Out Parade, the extension of the orientation camp from three to six weeks, and the restructuring of the scheme into specialised skills-based streams.
The reforms were approved on Monday during the Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja.
The Council also approved replacing the military-led leadership structure of the NYSC with a civilian Director-General, marking the first comprehensive reform of the scheme since its establishment in 1973.
Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Wisdom, said the reform process began in 2025 following the inauguration of a committee to review the operations of the NYSC.
According to him, the outcome represents a major transformation of the scheme from a mobilisation programme into a platform focused on skills acquisition, job creation, productivity and national development.
He explained that while the NYSC was created after the Nigerian Civil War to promote national unity, changing national realities now require the scheme to evolve.
"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.
He added that the review identified several challenges, including outdated legislation, weak connections between education and employment, as well as concerns over the safety and welfare of corps members.
Wisdom said the Ministry of Youth Development, the Ministry of Education and the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination jointly developed the reform framework, which was subsequently approved by the Federal Executive Council.
Also speaking, 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.
She said the changes are designed to reposition the scheme into a civilian-led, skills-oriented and productivity-driven institution capable of contributing to the Federal Government's ambition of building a $1 trillion economy.
NYSC Divided Into 11 Specialised Streams
Under the new framework, every corps member will choose one of 11 specialised service streams during registration based on academic qualifications and personal skills.
The streams include:
Agriculture Core
Medical Core
Education Core
Technology and Digital Core
Legal Core
Public Service Core
Infrastructure Core
Green Core
Enterprise Core
Creative Economy Core
Paramilitary and Security Core
Usman explained that corps members would receive specialised training tailored to their chosen stream during orientation.
Orientation Camp Extended to Six Weeks
One of the major reforms approved by the Council is the extension of the NYSC orientation programme from its current duration to six weeks.
The programme will now be divided into three phases of two weeks each.
According to Usman, the first phase will focus on civic responsibility, national values and leadership development.
The second phase will cover career planning, financial literacy, business development, access to finance and structured career engagement with employers.
The final phase will provide specialised training based on each corps member's selected service stream, academic background and skills profile.
She added that corps members enrolled in streams requiring professional certifications, particularly the Technology and Digital Core, may remain in structured training for between three and six months before deployment.
"We want them to have skills that will enable them to be self-employed," she said.
Civilian Director-General to Head NYSC
The new organisational structure will place the NYSC under a civilian Director-General, assisted by three Executive Directors, while a military or paramilitary officer will head a dedicated security directorate.
Addressing concerns over security, Usman clarified that although administrative leadership would become civilian, the military would continue to oversee security operations and the protection of corps members nationwide.
"The safety aspect still remains with the military, but the operational leadership of NYSC will be civilian-led, while security will continue to be anchored and implemented by the Nigerian military," she explained.
Passing-Out Parade Replaced
As part of the reforms, the traditional Passing-Out Parade will be discontinued and replaced with a graduation ceremony, reflecting the programme's new emphasis on skills development and career readiness.
The NYSC uniform will also be redesigned to project a more professional image while retaining its unique identity.
NYSC Act to Be Amended
Usman disclosed that the Attorney-General of the Federation, working with the Ministry of Youth Development, has been directed to amend the NYSC Act and other relevant regulations to provide immediate legal backing for the approved reforms.
On the issue of brain drain, popularly referred to as "Japa," she said the reforms are intended to transform the challenge into an opportunity by producing more highly skilled graduates capable of contributing both locally and internationally.
According to her, Nigeria should focus on developing more skilled professionals while creating opportunities for them to contribute to national development, even if they eventually work abroad.
The reforms mark the most significant overhaul of the National Youth Service Corps since its establishment over five decades ago, with the Federal Government aiming to align the scheme with current economic realities and the country's long-term development goals.
ADEOLA KUNLE
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