President Bola Tinubu has announced sweeping reforms to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), revealing that corps members will now be deployed to security-challenged states based on comprehensive risk assessments as part of efforts to modernise the scheme.
The President also confirmed that the NYSC will henceforth be headed by a civilian Director-General, replacing the long-standing practice of appointing military officers to lead the organisation.
Sharing details of the reforms on his official X account, Tinubu described the changes as the most significant overhaul of the NYSC since its establishment in 1973, saying they are aimed at transforming the scheme into a platform for national development, skills acquisition and youth empowerment.
According to the President, the revamped orientation programme will now last six weeks, with a stronger focus on preparing graduates for employment, entrepreneurship and public service.
He explained that the extended programme would begin with civic responsibility, leadership training, national values and personal development before moving into career readiness, entrepreneurship, digital literacy and financial education. Corps members will also undergo specialised training tailored to their academic qualifications and career interests.
The specialised training will cover key sectors including agriculture, healthcare, education, technology, law, public service, infrastructure, the green economy, entrepreneurship, the creative industry and paramilitary or security services.
Tinubu said the reforms fulfil a promise made during his inauguration to create meaningful opportunities for young Nigerians and ensure they play a central role in national development.
“We are repositioning the NYSC from a mobilisation scheme into a national development platform for skills, employability, productivity and enterprise,” the President said.
He stressed that while the NYSC’s original objective of promoting national unity remains important, Nigeria’s changing realities require a more practical approach that equips graduates with skills needed to contribute to the country’s economic growth.
The President described Nigerian youths as the driving force behind his administration’s vision of building a $1 trillion economy, noting that they account for nearly 70 per cent of the country’s population and should be empowered rather than viewed as a burden.
The reforms follow Monday’s approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), where the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, and the President’s Special Adviser on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, outlined the government’s plans to reposition the NYSC for the country’s future needs.
