JUST IN: FEC APPROVES MAJOR NYSC REFORMS, ORDERS REVIEW OF 53-YEAR-OLD OPERATIONAL FRAMEWORK

FEC APPROVES MAJOR NYSC REFORMS, ORDERS REVIEW OF 53-YEAR-OLD OPERATIONAL FRAMEWORK

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a major reform of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), marking what officials describe as the first comprehensive review of the scheme since its establishment more than five decades ago.

The decision, announced on Monday, is expected to significantly reshape the operational structure of the NYSC as part of broader efforts by the Federal Government to reposition the scheme toward youth empowerment, skills development, and national productivity.

As part of the approved reforms, FEC directed the Attorney-General of the Federation alongside the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to begin immediate amendments to the NYSC Act and other relevant regulations to accommodate the newly approved framework and pave the way for implementation.

One of the major highlights of the reform is the introduction of civilian leadership for the operational management of the NYSC. Under the new structure, the scheme will now be headed by a civilian administrator, while the military will continue to maintain responsibility for security coordination and the protection of corps members deployed across the country.

Government officials said the reform is aimed at transforming the NYSC from its traditional orientation into a more skill-driven and productivity-focused institution capable of equipping Nigerian youths with practical competencies needed to contribute meaningfully to national development.

The move is also expected to align the scheme with the Federal Government’s broader economic agenda, particularly the administration’s ambition of building a one trillion dollar economy through stronger youth participation, entrepreneurship development, and workforce productivity.

Established in 1973 shortly after Nigeria’s civil war, the National Youth Service Corps was created to promote national unity by deploying graduates to states outside their regions of origin for one year of mandatory service.

Over the years, there have been growing calls from stakeholders, education experts, and youth organizations for reforms within the scheme, particularly concerning security challenges faced by corps members, evolving economic realities, and the need to equip participants with employable skills beyond the traditional service year structure.

The latest FEC approval signals what could become one of the most significant transformations in the history of the agency as the government moves toward implementing a modernized framework for youth development and national service.