The federal government says the National Youth Service Corps must be transformed into a modern, digitally driven and fiscally sustainable institution capable of meeting Nigeria’s manpower needs today and in the future. Hadiza Usman, special adviser to the president on policy and coordination Andrew head of the central results delivery coordination unit, made this known on Monday in Abuja at the NYSC Reform Stakeholders’ Consultative Engagement Forum. The forum was organised by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination to validate recommendations made by the NYSC reform committee.
Ms Usman said the NYSC had, for more than 50 years, stood as a symbol of unity and civic responsibility, but she warned that the scheme could not continue to operate under structures designed for the 1990s. “For over five decades, the NYSC has symbolised unity, civic responsibility and national integration. Yet, as with all human institutions, relevance requires reinvention,” she said. She stated that the current structure was outdated, overstretched and misaligned with national priorities. “These realities have made clear that the current structure – centralised, analogue, financially overstretched, and misaligned with national manpower needs – cannot carry the scheme into the future,” she said.
According to her, diagnostic reviews conducted by the committee revealed legal, operational, digital and fiscal gaps that required urgent action. Ms Usman explained that the findings showed centralisation slowed service delivery, the funding model was too dependent on the federal government, and skill programmes did not align with labour-market needs. In response, she said the committee proposed broad reforms, including amending the NYSC Act to provide for digital service, gender-responsive deployment, co-funding by states and local governments and clear employer obligations.
Other proposals include a three-tier governance structure for improved accountability, a unified digital command and service platform, zonal innovation hubs under a redesigned skill development system, and the creation of a N2 billion NYSC Innovation Fund. Ms Usman said, “The reform proposal envisions a phased implementation between 2026 and 2028, beginning with legislative amendments and digital pilots in 2026, and culminating in a nationwide sector-aligned deployment model by 2028.” She noted that the success of the reforms depended on broad stakeholder ownership.
Earlier, the minister of youth, Ayodele Olawande, said the reforms were necessary to ensure corps members were better prepared for employment and self-reliance. He explained that the NYSC must produce graduates capable of contributing meaningfully to the economy. “Let us make NYSC productive so that after one year, corps members will not just come out looking for government jobs but can become employers of labour,” he said. Mr Olawande added that with corps member numbers expected to rise from 400,000 to 600,000 annually, Nigeria must ensure the scheme remained relevant and aligned with current realities.
The director-general of the NYSC, Brig. Gen. Olakinle Nafiu, said the scheme had undergone several internal and external reforms over the years and must continue to evolve. He explained that the NYSC grew significantly since its creation, noting that “as a matter of fact, in 1973, the first set of corps members mobilised were 2,364. Today, we mobilise 400,000 annually, and we expect 650,000 locally trained graduates to present for service next year.” He added that the NYSC remained a model in Africa and must keep improving to maintain that position.
The director-general of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Kashifu Inuwa, said the reforms must enable Nigeria to harness its human capital for national growth and global competitiveness. He stressed that the country’s rapidly expanding population presented both an opportunity and a challenge. “In Nigeria, we can conveniently train our youth and help them to reach the global talent gap. Imagine we have two million Nigerians working remotely; this can earn the country nothing less than 100 billion dollars annually. We can achieve a one trillion-dollar economy if we harness our human capital,” he said.
A youth participant, Fatima Lamisula, representing Borno North at the Nigerian Youth Parliament, said the reforms were timely and aligned with the needs of young graduates facing a changing labour market. “These policies are outdated and youth have to bring in their ideas and innovations. Life after NYSC is something we have to think of even before finishing the programme, so the reforms should align with the future of corps members,” she said.
Recommendations from the forum will be forwarded to the federal executive council and subsequently to the National Assembly for legislative action.
