President Bola Tinubu has defended his administration’s sweeping reforms of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme, saying the overhaul is intended to equip young Nigerians with practical skills, improve their employability and prepare them to contribute more effectively to national development.
The president said the reforms, approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Monday, fulfil his administration’s promise to create meaningful opportunities for young people while repositioning the 53-year-old scheme to meet the realities of modern Nigeria.
In a statement shared on his official X account on Wednesday, Tinubu described the changes as the most significant reforms of the NYSC 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,” he said.
Recalling his inaugural pledge to prioritise young people and women in governance, the president said the new NYSC framework is part of delivering on that commitment.
According to Tinubu, although the scheme has played a vital role in promoting national unity for more than five decades, the country’s changing economic and social landscape demands a broader mandate.
“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.
Describing Nigeria’s youthful population as a national asset, Tinubu stressed that young people should be regarded as the country’s engine for growth rather than a burden to be managed.
Under the reforms, the NYSC orientation programme will be extended to six weeks, with participants receiving training in civic responsibility, leadership, entrepreneurship, career readiness, digital and financial literacy, alongside specialised instruction aligned with their academic qualifications and career aspirations.
The president said corps members will undergo sector-specific training in agriculture, healthcare, education, technology, law, public service, infrastructure, the green economy, enterprise, the creative economy and paramilitary and security services.
“Every corps member must leave NYSC better prepared for work, enterprise and national service,” he said.
Tinubu also announced measures aimed at improving the safety of corps members through a risk-based deployment policy.
The revised deployment system will prioritise indigenes, residents, graduates of institutions in security-challenged states and those from neighbouring states within the same geopolitical zone.
He added that mobilisation would become technology-driven, while the primary place of assignment would be matched more closely with each corps member’s academic background, professional skills and career pathway.
The reforms also introduce changes to the scheme’s governance structure.
According to the president, the NYSC will be headed by a civilian director-general, supported by three executive directors, including a security services executive director drawn from the military or a paramilitary organisation.
Orientation camps will also be assessed under a national grading and certification framework, while state governments will be required to meet minimum operational standards.
Tinubu further announced that the traditional Passing-Out Parade will be replaced with a Graduation Ceremony, reflecting what he described as the transformation of corps members into trained civic and professional contributors to national development.
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 amending the NYSC Act and related regulations to provide legal backing for the reforms.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to Nigeria’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.”
