•••Military drills scrapped, Passing Out Parade replaced with graduation ceremony as government shifts focus to skills, entrepreneurship and youth empowerment.
The Federal Government has approved a comprehensive reform of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), introducing far-reaching changes aimed at transforming the scheme into a skills-driven and productivity-focused programme for Nigerian graduates.
The reforms, approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), mark the first major review of the NYSC since its establishment in 1973 and are designed to better prepare corps members for employment, entrepreneurship and national development.
A major highlight of the reforms is the extension of the orientation camp programme from three weeks to six weeks. Under the new structure, corps members will receive expanded training in leadership, entrepreneurship, digital skills, financial literacy and career development before deployment to their places of primary assignment.
In a significant departure from long-standing tradition, the government has abolished military drills and parade activities during orientation camps.
The conventional Passing Out Parade (POP), held at the completion of the one-year national service, will also be replaced with a graduation ceremony that reflects the scheme’s new emphasis on learning, innovation and professional development.
The government also approved the introduction of specialised career streams that will enable corps members to receive training and postings aligned with their academic qualifications and career aspirations. The initiative is expected to improve employability and contribute more effectively to national economic growth.
To enhance the safety and welfare of corps members, the reforms include a technology-driven mobilisation process and a risk-sensitive deployment system that will take security considerations into account before postings are made. Orientation camps will also be upgraded under a new national grading and certification framework.
As part of efforts to modernise the scheme, the Federal Government approved a redesigned NYSC uniform to project professionalism and give the organisation a renewed identity.
Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, described the reforms as the most comprehensive restructuring of the NYSC in over five decades, saying the changes will preserve the scheme’s role in promoting national unity while equipping young Nigerians with practical skills for today’s economy.
The Federal Executive Council has directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Ministry of Youth Development to begin the process of amending the NYSC Act and relevant regulations to provide the legal backing required for the implementation of the reforms.
The government said the overhaul underscores its commitment to repositioning the NYSC as a modern institution capable of empowering Nigerian youths, supporting economic development and responding to the country’s evolving workforce needs.
