President Bola Tinubu has defended sweeping reforms to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), explaining that the changes are aimed at equipping young Nigerians with practical skills and repositioning the scheme for today’s economic realities.
The President said the reforms, approved at the Federal Executive Council meeting on Monday, represent this current important change of the NYSC since its establishment in 1973.
In a statement posted on his official X account on Wednesday, Tinubu said the restructuring aligns with his administration’s promise to expand opportunities for young people and ensure they play a central role in national development.
“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 said.
He added that Nigeria’s youthful population estimated at nearly 70 percent must be better prepared to contribute to economic growth rather than be treated as passive participants.
“Our young people 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,” Tinubu said.
According to the President, the extended camp period is designed to provide corps members with deeper training in civic responsibility, leadership, personal development, and employability skills.
Under the new structure, the first phase of orientation will focus on values and citizenship education, while the second phase will cover career readiness, entrepreneurship, digital literacy, financial education, and specialised training linked to academic backgrounds.
Tinubu explained that the NYSC will now be repositioned from a mobilisation scheme into a national development platform focused on skills acquisition, productivity and enterprise.
Specialised training streams will cover key sectors such as agriculture, education, healthcare, technology, law, public service, infrastructure, the green economy, creative industries, and security-related fields.
The President also announced new safety measures for corps members, stating that deployment to security-challenged states will be guided by risk assessments.
Priority will be given to indigenes, residents, graduates of institutions within affected states, and corps members from neighbouring states within the same geopolitical zone.
He further disclosed that postings will become more technology-driven, with placements aligned more closely to corps members’ academic qualifications and career paths.
As part of the reforms, 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 coordination.
Tinubu also said orientation camps will be evaluated under a national grading and certification system, while the traditional Passing-Out Parade will be replaced with a Graduation Ceremony to reflect the expanded nature of the programme.
To implement the changes, the President directed the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and the Federal Ministry of Justice to begin amendments to the NYSC Act and other relevant regulations.
He commended all involved in designing the reforms, including the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, and other members of the reform committee.
Addressing young Nigerians, Tinubu said the reforms are intended to build confidence in the nation’s future.
“This nation believes in you. We are building a country worthy of your talent, your ambition and your future,” he said.