After 53 years, FG approves NYSC reforms, installs civilian leadership

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a comprehensive overhaul of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), marking the first major restructuring of the scheme since its establishment 53 years ago.

The reforms, approved at Monday’s FEC meeting in Abuja, are aimed at repositioning the NYSC into a skills-focused and productivity-driven institution aligned with the Federal Government’s economic agenda.

A key component of the overhaul is a change in the leadership structure, with the scheme to be headed by a civilian. The military, however, will continue to provide security for corps members across the country.

The council also directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to amend the NYSC Act and other relevant regulations to provide legal backing for the changes and facilitate their implementation.

Announcing the development on X, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, described the move as the first holistic review of the scheme in its 53-year history.
“We are transforming the scheme into a platform that not only unites Nigeria but also equips young people with the skills, experience, and opportunities they need to thrive in a fast-changing world,” he said.
Olawande added that the reforms would reposition the NYSC as “a skills-driven, productivity-focused and youth-empowering institution” in line with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of building a $1 trillion economy.

He listed key elements of the reforms to include a technology-driven call-up process, risk-sensitive deployment to enhance the safety of corps members, and a redesigned six-week orientation programme with a stronger focus on leadership, entrepreneurship, digital skills, and specialised career streams.
Other measures include skills-based primary assignments aligned with academic backgrounds and career pathways, modern governance with civilian operational leadership supported by the military for security, improved camp standards through a national grading and certification system, and the introduction of a new graduation ceremony to replace the traditional Passing Out Parade.
The reforms also provide for a redesigned NYSC uniform aimed at reflecting professionalism and national identity.

Olawande noted that the reform process began in 2025 through a broad-based review involving 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 before securing FEC approval.

“This is more than a reform of an institution. It is an investment in Nigeria’s greatest asset—its young people,” he said.

Established in 1973 in the aftermath of the Nigerian Civil War, the NYSC was designed to promote national unity by deploying graduates to states outside their regions of origin for a one-year compulsory service.

The latest reforms represent the first comprehensive review of the scheme since its inception, with the Federal Government saying the changes are intended to make the institution more responsive to Nigeria’s current economic realities and youth development priorities.