President Bola Tinubu has announced that, as part of the newly approved reforms of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the scheme will henceforth be headed by a civilian Director-General instead of a military officer.
The President also disclosed that the NYSC orientation
programme will be extended to six weeks, with every corps member expected to
complete the scheme better equipped for employment, entrepreneurship and
national service.
Recall that the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele
Olawande, alongside the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and
Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, briefed journalists after Monday’s Federal
Executive Council (FEC) meeting on the far-reaching reforms approved for the
NYSC, which was established in 1973.
In a post on his verified X account, @ABAT, on Wednesday,
President Tinubu said his administration is repositioning the NYSC into a
platform for national development while strengthening its governance, standards
and dignity.
He wrote: “On Monday, at the Federal Executive Council, our
administration approved the most consequential reforms of the National Youth
Service Corps Scheme since its establishment in 1973.
“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.
“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 of the one-trillion-dollar economy we are building and the hope
of this nation.”
Explaining the rationale behind the reforms, the President
said the government is transforming the NYSC from a mobilisation scheme into a
national development platform focused on skills acquisition, employability,
productivity, and entrepreneurship.
“The NYSC orientation programme will now become a six-week
journey.
“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.
“These streams will include agriculture, health, education,
technology, law, public service, infrastructure, the green economy, enterprise,
the creative economy, and paramilitary/security service.
“Every corps member must leave NYSC better prepared for
work, enterprise and national service.”
On the safety of corps members, Tinubu said deployment to
security-challenged states would be based on risk assessment.
“We are also making the NYSC Scheme safer and smarter.
“Deployment to security-challenged states will be guided by
risk assessment. It will prioritise indigenes, residents, and graduates of
institutions in those states, as well as those from neighbouring states within
the same geopolitical zone.
“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.”
The President further stated that the scheme would now be
led by a civilian Director-General, supported by three Executive Directors,
including a Security Services Executive Director, who would be a military or
paramilitary officer.
“Our administration is also strengthening governance,
standards and the dignity of the NYSC 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.
“Orientation camps will be assessed under a national grading
and certification framework, while states will be expected to meet minimum
standards.
“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.”
President Tinubu commended the officials involved in
developing the reform package.
“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.
“To every young Nigerian: this nation believes in you. We
are building a country worthy of your talent, your ambition and your future.”
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