The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a comprehensive reform of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), marking the first major review of the scheme since its establishment 53 years ago.
The reform is expected to reposition the NYSC as a civilian-led, skill-oriented and productivity-driven institution focused on youth empowerment and national development.
Under the approved framework, the NYSC’s operational leadership will be headed by a civilian, while the military will retain responsibility for providing security for corps members across the country.
The Federal Government said the move is part of efforts to strengthen human capital development and support Nigeria’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy.
Speaking on the development, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, said the reform was necessary to align the NYSC with the country’s economic and development goals.
“We need to intervene to build the present ambition of a $1 trillion economy by repositioning the NYSC as a civilian-led, skill-oriented, productivity-driven, and youth-empowering national institution,” Bala Usman said.
She explained that the reforms would focus on improving youth deployment, security considerations, camp structures, and the ability of the scheme to identify and develop the skills of young Nigerians.
A major part of the reform is the introduction of 11 core streams designed to align corps members’ training with their academic backgrounds, interests, and career goals.
The streams include: Agric Corps, Medical Corps, Education Corps, Tech and Digital Corps, Legal Corp, Public Service Corps, Infrastructure Corps, Green Corps, Enterprise Corps, Creative Economy Corps, Paramilitary and Security Corps
Bala Usman said every corps member would be required to select a stream after registration, allowing the NYSC to provide targeted training that improves employability and productivity.
She noted that the new structure would ensure graduates leave the programme with practical skills beyond their academic qualifications.
The reform will also introduce a new training structure during the NYSC orientation programme.
According to Usman, the first two weeks of camp will focus on civic responsibility, national values, leadership development, and social awareness.
The following two weeks will cover career mapping, basic accounting skills, business planning, financial literacy, and access to funding opportunities.
The final two weeks will focus on specialised training based on the corps member’s chosen stream.
The government also plans to introduce a structured career day programme, which will allow corps members to engage directly with industry professionals and potential employers.
The Federal Government said the changes are aimed at transforming the NYSC from a primarily service-based programme into an institution that actively develops Nigeria’s workforce.
Bala Usman said the reform would help the country identify the strengths of young graduates and channel their skills towards areas of national need.
She added that the changes would improve workforce readiness and strengthen Nigeria’s human capital base.
The NYSC currently led by Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu was established through Decree No.24 on May 22, 1973, following the Nigerian Civil War.
The scheme was created to promote national unity, encourage interaction among young Nigerians, and support national reconstruction efforts.