The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a comprehensive reform of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), marking the first major overhaul of the scheme in its 53-year history.
As part of the reforms, the Federal Government approved that the NYSC will now operate under civilian leadership, while the military will continue to provide security for corps members across the country.
To facilitate the implementation of the new framework, FEC directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Federal Ministry of Youth to amend the NYSC Act and relevant regulations to reflect the approved changes.
Speaking on the reform, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, said the initiative is designed to reposition the NYSC into a skill-oriented, productivity-driven and youth-empowering institution capable of contributing to the Federal Government’s vision of building a $1 trillion economy.
According to her, the reform focuses on strengthening human capital development by aligning corps members’ skills with national development priorities.
A key feature of the new framework is the introduction of 11 specialised service streams, allowing corps members to choose areas that match their academic background, interests and career aspirations.
The streams include Agric Corps, Medical Corps, Education Corps, Tech and Digital Corps, Legal Corps, Public Service Corps, Infrastructure Corps, Green Corps, Enterprise Corps, Creative Economy Corps, and Paramilitary and Security Corps.
Under the revised orientation programme, corps members will undergo a six-week training structure. The first two weeks will focus on civic responsibility, national values and leadership development. The following two weeks will cover career mapping, financial literacy, business planning and access to finance, while the final two weeks will provide specialised training based on each participant’s selected service stream.
Bala Usman described the initiative as the most significant reform of the NYSC since its establishment in 1973, noting that it reflects President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to equipping Nigerian youths with practical skills, improving employability and driving national economic growth.
The NYSC was established in 1973 to promote national unity and integration following the Nigerian Civil War. It is currently headed by Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu.
