By Chike Ofili
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Monday approved the most far-reaching reform of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) since its establishment 53 years ago, introducing specialised career streams, a redesigned orientation programme and security-conscious deployment of corps members.
The reforms, approved at the Council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu, are aimed at transforming the NYSC from a traditional national service scheme into a skills-driven platform for employment, entrepreneurship and national development.
Announcing the decision, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, described the approval as the first comprehensive review of the Scheme in its history.
She said the reforms would reposition the NYSC to equip graduates with practical skills, career opportunities and leadership training while preserving its role in promoting national unity.
According to her, the six-week orientation course will be completely redesigned into three phases.
The first two weeks will focus on civic responsibility, national values and leadership development, while the second phase will provide training in career mapping, financial literacy, business planning and access to finance.
The final two weeks will be devoted to specialised training based on each corps member’s chosen career path.
Under the new framework, prospective corps members will select one of 11 specialised streams during registration and receive targeted training throughout the orientation programme to prepare them for future employment and national service.
The specialised 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.
Usman said the new structure is designed to align graduates’ academic qualifications and career aspirations with the country’s workforce needs, thereby improving employability and productivity.
She added that the reforms also introduce a review of deployment procedures, with greater consideration given to prevailing security conditions before corps members are posted to states.
Among other key changes approved by FEC are a technology-driven call-up process, skills-based primary assignments linked to graduates’ academic backgrounds and career pathways, and a modern governance structure under civilian operational leadership, while the military will continue to provide security support for the Scheme.
The Council also approved a national grading and certification system to improve standards in orientation camps, alongside the introduction of a new graduation ceremony to replace the traditional Passing-Out Parade.
In addition, corps members will receive redesigned uniforms intended to reflect greater professionalism and national pride.
Usman said the reform process began in 2025 following an extensive multi-stakeholder 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 Coordination.
She disclosed that the Federal Executive Council has directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to commence amendments to the NYSC Act and relevant regulations to provide the legal framework for implementing the reforms.
According to her, the reforms are intended to align the NYSC with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of building a $1 trillion Nigerian economy by producing a more skilled, productive and globally competitive youth population.