The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a comprehensive reform of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), marking what is reportedly the first major review of the scheme in its 53-year history.
As part of the reform, FEC directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Ministry of Youth to amend the NYSC Act and relevant regulations to accommodate the approved changes and enable immediate implementation of the new framework.
Under the new arrangement, the NYSC will be led by a civilian in its operational leadership, while the military will continue to provide security for corps members across the country.
Speaking on the reform, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, said the move is aimed at repositioning the scheme as a civilian-led, skill-oriented, productivity-driven, and youth-empowering institution capable of contributing to Nigeria’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy.
According to her, corps members will be allowed to choose from various specialised service streams based on their interests and career goals.
The proposed streams include the Agric Corps, Medical Corps, Education Corps, Tech and Digital Corps, Legal Corps, Public Service Corps, Infrastructure Corps, Green Corps, Enterprise Corps, Creative Economy Corps, and Paramilitary and Security Corps.
The government said the reforms are designed to better align the NYSC with national development priorities while equipping young Nigerians with practical skills and career opportunities.