The Federal Executive Council (FEC), chaired by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has approved a comprehensive reform of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) –the first holistic review of the scheme since its establishment 53 years ago .
The landmark decision, announced on Monday following the FEC meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, introduces a fundamental shift in the agency’s governance structure.
Under the new arrangement, the NYSC will now be led by a civilian in its operational leadership, while the military will retain responsibility for providing security for corps members across the country .
Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, who announced the development, explained that the overhaul is designed to align the 1973 national service scheme with Nigeria’s current realities and development priorities .
“For over five decades, the NYSC has remained a powerful symbol of national unity and service. Today, we have taken a bold step to preserve that legacy while preparing it for the future,” Olawande stated.
The approved reforms include a technology-driven call-up process and risk-sensitive deployment to better protect corps members. A redesigned six-week orientation programme will place stronger emphasis on leadership, entrepreneurship, digital skills, and specialised career streams .
Corps members will now undertake skills-based primary assignments aligned with their academic backgrounds and career pathways. The government will also implement improved camp standards through a national grading and certification system .
In a symbolic break from tradition, the government approved a new graduation ceremony to replace the traditional Passing Out Parade, alongside a redesigned NYSC uniform that reflects professionalism and national pride .
To give legal backing to these changes, the FEC directed the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to amend the NYSC Act and its regulations to enable immediate implementation of the new framework .
Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, clarified that the scheme’s one-year service period remains unchanged. However, graduates enrolled in specialised streams, such as the proposed Digital Corps, may spend additional time in training before deployment to earn professional certifications .
Olawande described the reforms as an investment in Nigerian youths, stating they would reposition the NYSC as a skills-driven, productivity-focused institution aligned with President Tinubu’s vision of building a $1 trillion economy .
The review process, which began in 2025, involved consultations with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, the Federal Ministry of Education, and the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination .
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