Tinubu Begins Process to Amend NYSC Act After Approving Historic Reforms
President Bola Tinubu has announced what he describes as the most significant reform of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) since its establishment in 1973. The overhaul includes extending the orientation camp to six weeks, introducing career-based training, enhancing digital and entrepreneurship skills, improving deployment security.
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President Tinubu unveils the biggest NYSC reforms since 1973, extending orientation to six weeks and introducing career-focused training, safer deployment, and digital skills.
In his post via his verified X handle @officialABAT, he framed the overhaul approved at Monday’s Federal Executive Council meeting which he presided over as the fulfilment of a promise he made on the day he was sworn in: “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.
“For 53 years, the NYSC has served the cause of national unity. That mission remains important and must be preserved,” the President said, but added that “the Nigeria of today demands more.” He stressed the demographic and economic stakes: “Our young people are nearly 70 per cent of our population. They are not a burden to be managed… They are the engine of the one‑trillion‑dollar economy we are building and the hope of this nation.”
Under the announced changes, the NYSC orientation programme will be extended to a six‑week curriculum designed to move beyond basic mobilisation. “The NYSC orientation programme will now become a six‑week journey,” Tinubu said. “It will begin with civic responsibility, leadership, values and personal development. It will then move into career readiness, entrepreneurship, digital and financial skills. Finally, corps members will receive specialised training aligned with their academic background and career pathway.”
Tinubu outlined the new career streams that will guide specialised training: “These streams will include agriculture, health, education, technology, law, public service, infrastructure, green economy, enterprise, creative economy, and para‑military/security service.” He made clear his expectation: “Every corps member must leave NYSC better prepared for work, enterprise and national service.”
The president also pledged to make the scheme “safer and smarter.” On deployment and security, he said: “Deployment to security‑challenged states will be guided by risk assessment. It will prioritise indigenes, residents, graduates of institutions in those states and those from neighbouring states within the same geopolitical zones.”
He promised technological reforms: “The call‑up process will become technology‑driven and primary assignments will be better aligned with each corps member’s skills, academic background and career stream.”
On governance and dignity of service, Tinubu announced structural changes at the top of the scheme: “The NYSC will be led by a civilian Director‑General, supported by three Executive Directors, including a Security Services Executive Director, who will be a military or paramilitary officer.” He added measures to standardise training and accountability: “Orientation camps will be assessed under a national grading and certification framework, while states will be expected to meet minimum standards.”
Signalling a shift in how service completion will be framed, the president said the traditional Passing‑Out Parade will be rebranded: “The Passing‑Out Parade will become a Graduation Ceremony because our corps members will no longer merely complete service. They will graduate as trained civic and professional contributors to national development.”
Tinubu credited officials who worked on the reforms and set the legal process in motion: “I commend the Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande; my Special Adviser on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman; the Federal Ministry of Education; and the members of the Reform Committee for their work. I have directed the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and the Federal Ministry of Justice to commence the process of amending the NYSC Act and subsidiary regulations.”
He closed with a direct message to young Nigerians: “To every young Nigerian: this nation believes in you. We are building a country worthy of your talent, your ambition and your future.”
