NYSC Deployments to Insecure States Will Be Based on Risk Assessment — Tinubu

NYSC Deployments to Insecure States Will Be Based on Risk Assessment — Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has announced a comprehensive overhaul of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), declaring that the deployment of corps members to security-challenged states will henceforth be guided by thorough security risk assessments to better safeguard participants.

The reforms, approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), represent the most significant restructuring of the NYSC since its establishment in 1973. They include extending the orientation programme from three to six weeks, appointing a civilian as Director-General, introducing specialised career tracks, and transforming the scheme into a platform focused on skills acquisition, employability and entrepreneurship.

In a statement shared on his verified X account on Wednesday, President Tinubu said the reforms are part of his administration’s commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for young Nigerians while strengthening governance, standards and the relevance of the NYSC.

“On Monday, at the Federal Executive Council, our administration approved the most consequential reforms of the National Youth Service Scheme since its establishment in 1973,” the President said.

He recalled that on the day of his inauguration, he pledged to prioritise women and young people in his administration, describing the reforms as part of fulfilling that promise.

“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,” Tinubu stated.

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“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.”

A major highlight of the reforms is a new risk-based deployment policy, under which corps members will only be posted to states experiencing security challenges after comprehensive assessments by relevant authorities.

The policy comes amid growing concerns over the safety of corps members following incidents of kidnapping, violent attacks and insecurity in some parts of the country. The Federal Government says the new approach is intended to balance the NYSC’s national integration mandate with the need to protect participants.

President Tinubu also reaffirmed that the NYSC will now be headed by a civilian Director-General, ending the long-standing practice of appointing serving military officers to oversee the scheme.

Another major change is the expansion of the orientation programme from three weeks to six weeks. According to the President, the new structure is designed to provide corps members with practical knowledge and workplace skills before they begin their primary assignments.

The first phase of the programme will focus on civic responsibility, leadership, national values and personal development. The second phase will provide training in career readiness, entrepreneurship, digital literacy and financial management, while the final phase will offer specialised instruction tailored to participants’ academic qualifications and career aspirations.

To support this new approach, the Federal Government has introduced 11 specialised career streams, allowing corps members to receive sector-specific training in agriculture, healthcare, education, technology, law, public service, infrastructure, the green economy, enterprise, the creative economy, and paramilitary/security services.

The reforms also include the introduction of a national grading and certification system for orientation camps, a redesign of the NYSC uniform and the replacement of the traditional Passing-Out Parade with a graduation ceremony that reflects the enhanced focus on learning and professional development.

The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, and the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, had earlier explained that the reforms were approved by the Federal Executive Council after extensive consultations and are aimed at making the NYSC more responsive to Nigeria’s evolving economic and workforce needs.

The Federal Government also plans to amend the NYSC Act to provide the legal framework required for the full implementation of the reforms.

With the changes, the Tinubu administration says the NYSC will evolve from a mobilisation programme into a national development platform that equips graduates with the skills, experience and entrepreneurial capacity needed to contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth while ensuring their safety during national service.

NYSC Deployments to Insecure States Will Be Based on Risk Assessment — Tinubu