THE Federal Executive Council (FEC), presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has approved a comprehensive reform of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), marking the most significant review of the scheme since its establishment more than five decades ago.
News Point Nigeria reports that the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, disclosed the development while briefing State House correspondents after the FEC meeting held at the Presidential Villa on Monday.
According to the minister, the approval includes a full review of the NYSC scheme to align it with Nigeria’s current realities and evolving national priorities.
The National Youth Service Corps was established in 1973 to promote national unity and reconciliation following the Nigerian Civil War.
For the past 53 years, the scheme has played a key role in bringing together Nigerian graduates from different parts of the country while strengthening national unity and integration.
However, Olawande said reforms have become necessary after decades of operation, noting that the country’s needs have changed considerably.
He explained that many Nigerians now expect the objectives of the NYSC to evolve in line with contemporary realities.
“Our needs as a country have changed, and many expect the objectives of NYSC to also change,” the minister said.
As part of the approved reforms, the Federal Government will introduce a new co-funding model that shifts the scheme away from strict dependence on the Federal Government to a three-tier governance and funding structure involving the federal, state, and local governments.
The reform also provides for a comprehensive digital transformation of the scheme by replacing its heavily centralised and manual processes with a unified digital command platform.
In addition, prospective corps members will now be required to present a compliance certificate from the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) as part of the mobilisation process.
The Federal Executive Council also approved measures aimed at promoting innovation and youth empowerment through the creation of a ₦2 billion NYSC Innovation Fund and the establishment of zonal innovation hubs to support skills development, entrepreneurship, and access to capital for corps members.
Furthermore, the government will embark on a legislative overhaul of the scheme by updating the NYSC Act.
The reform package also includes support for the proposed NYSC Trust Fund Bill, which is designed to improve orientation camp infrastructure and provide startup capital for corps members after completing their national service.