New NYSC reforms will prepare youth for jobs, leadership, says Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has said the newly approved reforms of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) are aimed at equipping young Nigerians with the skills, values and experience needed for employment, entrepreneurship, leadership and national service.

The President made the remarks in a statement posted on his X account on Wednesday, describing the reforms approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Monday as one of the most far-reaching overhauls of the NYSC scheme since its establishment in 1973.

According to Tinubu, the reforms fulfil a key promise he made during his inauguration to create meaningful opportunities for young people and ensure they play a central role in his administration.

“On the day I was sworn in as your President, I promised to create meaningful opportunities for our young people. I said women and youth would feature prominently in our administration, and this reform is partly the actualisation of that promise,” he said.

The President acknowledged the NYSC’s long standing contribution to promoting national unity over the past 53 years but stressed that the country’s evolving socio-economic realities require the scheme to take on a broader developmental role.

“For 53 years, the NYSC has served the cause of national unity. That mission remains important and must be preserved. But the Nigeria of today demands more. Our young people are nearly 70 per cent of our population. They are not a burden to be managed. They are the engine,” Tinubu stated.

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Under the approved reforms, the NYSC orientation programme will be extended from its current duration to six weeks and redesigned to focus on civic responsibility, leadership, entrepreneurship, career readiness, digital literacy, financial literacy and national values.

Tinubu said corps members would also receive specialised training tailored to their academic qualifications and career aspirations. The training will cover critical sectors including agriculture, healthcare, education, technology, law, public service, infrastructure, the green economy, enterprise development, the creative economy, as well as paramilitary and security services.

“Every corps member must leave NYSC better prepared for work, enterprise and national service,” the President said.

As part of efforts to enhance security, Tinubu announced that the scheme would adopt a risk-based deployment system for states facing security challenges. Under the new arrangement, priority will be given to indigenes, residents, graduates of institutions in affected states, and corps members from neighbouring states within the same geopolitical zone.

He added that the NYSC call-up process would become fully technology-driven, while primary assignments would be matched more closely with participants’ academic backgrounds, professional skills and career goals.

The reforms also introduce changes to the leadership structure of the scheme. Tinubu disclosed that the NYSC would now be headed by a civilian Director-General supported by three Executive Directors, one of whom will oversee Security Services and be appointed from the military or paramilitary.

In addition, orientation camps will be subjected to a national grading and certification framework, with state governments required to meet minimum operational standards.

The President further announced that the traditional Passing-Out Parade would be renamed the Graduation Ceremony to reflect the programme’s renewed emphasis on professional and civic development.

Tinubu commended the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, his Special Adviser on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, the Federal Ministry of Education and members of the reform committee for their contributions to the initiative.