President Bola Tinubu has defended his administration’s sweeping reforms of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), describing them as a deliberate shift from a mere mobilisation scheme into a full-fledged platform for skills development, employability and enterprise among Nigerian youths.
In a statement posted to his official X account on Wednesday, Tinubu called the reforms — approved by the Federal Executive Council earlier in the week — the most far-reaching changes to the NYSC since it was created in 1973. He tied the overhaul directly to a pledge made at his inauguration to give young people a central role in his government.
“On the day I was sworn in as your President, I promised to create meaningful opportunities for our young people,” Tinubu said, adding that youths make up close to 70 percent of Nigeria’s population and represent “the engine” of the economic growth his administration is pursuing, not a burden on the state.
What’s changing under the reform:
- Orientation camp extended to six weeks — beginning with civic values and leadership training before moving into entrepreneurship, digital/financial literacy, and career-specific specialisation.
- New specialised training streams in agriculture, health, education, tech, law, infrastructure, the creative sector, green economy and paramilitary/security services.
- Safer deployment to volatile states — postings to security-challenged areas will now follow risk assessments, with priority given to indigenes, local residents and graduates from institutions within the same or neighbouring geopolitical zones.
- Tech-driven call-up system to better match corps members’ skills and academic backgrounds to their assignments.
- New leadership structure — a civilian Director-General will now head the NYSC, backed by three Executive Directors, one of whom will oversee security and come from the military or paramilitary services.
- Camps to be graded and certified under a new national framework, and the long-standing Passing-Out Parade will be replaced with a Graduation Ceremony.
Tinubu said he has directed the Ministries of Youth Development and Justice to begin amending the NYSC Act to give the reforms legal teeth. He praised Youth Development Minister Ayodele Olawande, Special Adviser Hadiza Bala Usman, and the reform committee for their work, closing with a direct message to young Nigerians: “This nation believes in you. We are building a country worthy of your talent, your ambition and your future.”
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