The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved far-reaching reforms to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), introducing a civilian leadership structure and expanding professional skills training for corps members to improve their employability and entrepreneurial prospects.
The reforms were approved during the FEC meeting chaired by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Speaking to State House correspondents after the meeting, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, said the changes are designed to modernise the NYSC and align it with the government’s broader youth development agenda.
According to him, while the NYSC will continue to operate its mandatory one-year national service programme, corps members will now benefit from structured professional and vocational training aimed at equipping them with industry-relevant skills and internationally recognised certifications.
A major highlight of the reforms is the transition of the NYSC’s leadership from military to civilian administration. Olawande clarified that although the scheme will now be managed by civilians, the Nigerian military will continue to provide security for corps members across the country.
He explained that specialised programmes, including the proposed Digital Corps, will offer additional training opportunities before deployment to places of primary assignment. Participants in these streams may spend extra time acquiring professional certifications that will enhance their competitiveness in the labour market and support self-employment.
“The service year remains one year, but specialised streams may require additional training before deployment to enable participants earn professional certifications that improve employability and entrepreneurship,” the minister said.
Olawande added that the reforms are intended to consolidate youth development initiatives under the NYSC framework, thereby improving coordination, accountability, monitoring and overall programme effectiveness.
Also addressing journalists, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, stressed that the changes would not diminish the military’s role in safeguarding corps members.
She explained that while operational leadership of the NYSC will become civilian-led, responsibility for the security of corps members will remain with the Nigerian Armed Forces.
“The safety of corps members remains the responsibility of the military. The reform only changes the administrative leadership of the NYSC, while security arrangements continue to be handled by the military,” she said.
To ensure the reforms take immediate effect, the Federal Executive Council directed the Attorney-General of the Federation to work with the Ministry of Youth Development to amend the NYSC Act and other relevant regulations to provide the necessary legal backing.
Responding to concerns about the increasing migration of skilled Nigerians abroad, popularly known as the “brain drain,” Bala Usman said the government’s priority is to produce more highly skilled graduates, particularly in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
She noted that equipping young Nigerians with globally competitive skills would benefit the country regardless of whether they choose to build their careers locally or overseas.
According to her, Nigerians who eventually seek opportunities abroad can still contribute to national development through investments, knowledge transfer and international experience, while those who remain in the country will help strengthen key sectors of the economy.
The approved reforms represent one of the most significant overhauls of the NYSC since its establishment, with the government aiming to transform the scheme into a stronger platform for youth empowerment, skills development and national economic growth.
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