RismadarVoice Reporters, July 1, 2026
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has explained that the recently approved reforms to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) are designed to equip young Nigerians with practical skills, enhance their employability and prepare them for national development.
The President said the reforms, approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Monday, reflect his administration’s commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for the country’s youth.
In a statement shared on his X account on Wednesday, Tinubu described the changes as the most significant overhaul of the NYSC scheme since its establishment in 1973.
He recalled his inaugural promise to prioritise young people and women in governance, saying the reforms represent a key step toward fulfilling that pledge.
According to the President, while the NYSC has remained an important tool for promoting national unity over the past 53 years, Nigeria’s current realities require a more modern and skills-driven approach.
Tinubu noted that young people constitute nearly 70 per cent of the country’s population and should be viewed as a vital resource for national growth rather than a burden.
Under the new framework, the orientation programme will be extended from three to six weeks, with training focused on civic responsibility, leadership, national values, entrepreneurship, career development, digital skills and financial literacy.
The reforms also introduce specialised career streams covering agriculture, healthcare, education, technology, law, public service, infrastructure, the green economy, enterprise, the creative economy, and paramilitary and security services.
The President said the goal is to ensure that every corps member completes the programme better equipped for employment, entrepreneurship and national service.
Tinubu also disclosed that the reforms include a risk-based deployment system aimed at improving the safety of corps members, particularly in states facing security challenges.
Under the new deployment model, priority will be given to indigenes, residents, graduates of institutions within affected states and those from neighbouring states in the same geopolitical zone.
He added that the call-up process would become fully technology-driven, while primary assignments would be aligned with each corps member’s academic background, professional skills and chosen career stream.
On the administration of the scheme, Tinubu announced that the NYSC would 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 matters.
He further revealed that orientation camps would be assessed under a national grading and certification framework, with states required to meet prescribed operational standards.
The President also said the traditional Passing-Out Parade would be replaced with a graduation ceremony to reflect the enhanced training corps members would receive before completing their service year.
Tinubu commended the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, the Federal Ministry of Education and members of the reform committee for their contributions.
He also directed the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and the Federal Ministry of Justice to begin the process of amending the NYSC Act and other relevant regulations to provide legal backing for the reforms.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to investing in young Nigerians, expressing confidence that the reforms would strengthen their capacity to contribute meaningfully to national development.
