President Bola Tinubu has defended the Federal Government’s newly approved NYSC reforms, describing them as the most comprehensive changes to the National Youth Service Corps since its establishment in 1973. He said the overhaul is designed to equip young Nigerians with practical skills, boost employability and prepare them to contribute more effectively to national development.
In a statement shared on his official X account on Wednesday, Tinubu said the reforms approved by the Federal Executive Council earlier in the week fulfil a commitment he made at his inauguration to expand opportunities for young Nigerians. According to the President, the country must adapt the NYSC scheme to reflect current economic and social realities while preserving its role in promoting national unity.
Tinubu said the government recognises young Nigerians as a critical asset for the country’s future economic growth.
“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 added that the reforms align with his administration’s pledge to place young people and women at the centre of national development.
“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.” The President said while the NYSC has promoted national integration for more than five decades, today’s realities require the programme to focus more on skills development and economic productivity.
“Our young people are nearly 70 per cent of our population. They are not a burden to be managed. They are the engine of the one-trillion-dollar economy we are building and the hope of this nation.”
Under the NYSC reforms, the orientation programme will now last six weeks. The revised curriculum will begin with civic responsibility, leadership, values and personal development before moving into entrepreneurship, career readiness, digital literacy, financial literacy and specialised professional training. The specialised training streams will include agriculture, education, healthcare, technology, law, public service, infrastructure, the green economy, enterprise development, the creative industry, and paramilitary and security services.
Tinubu also announced measures aimed at improving the safety of corps members during deployment.
According to him, postings to security-sensitive states will now be based on security risk assessments and will prioritise indigenes, residents, graduates of institutions located within those states and candidates from neighbouring states in the same geopolitical zone. He added that the call-up process will become fully technology-driven, while primary assignments will be matched more closely with each corps member’s academic qualifications, professional skills and chosen career pathway.
The President further disclosed that the NYSC will now be headed by a civilian Director-General supported by three Executive Directors, including one drawn from the military or paramilitary services to oversee security-related responsibilities. In addition, orientation camps will be evaluated through a national grading and certification framework, while the traditional Passing-Out Parade will be replaced with a Graduation Ceremony to reflect the programme’s expanded developmental focus.
Tinubu said he has directed the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and the Federal Ministry of Justice to begin the legislative process of amending the NYSC Act and other relevant regulations to provide legal backing for the reforms. He also commended the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, the Special Adviser on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, the Federal Ministry of Education and members of the reform committee for their contributions.
The NYSC reforms represent a major restructuring of one of Nigeria’s longest-running national programmes. The Federal Government says the changes will strengthen youth development, improve employability, enhance corps members’ safety and reposition the scheme as a platform for skills acquisition, enterprise and national economic growth.
