President Bola Tinubu has approved a comprehensive reform of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), introducing far-reaching changes aimed at modernising the scheme, improving corps members’ welfare, and aligning the programme with current national development goals.

As part of the reforms, the NYSC will now be led operationally by civilians, while the military will continue to provide security support for corps members across the country.

The new framework also provides for skills-based primary assignments that align with graduates’ academic backgrounds and career aspirations, improved orientation camp standards through a national grading and certification system, and a redesigned NYSC uniform to reflect professionalism and national pride.

In addition, the traditional Passing Out Parade will be replaced with a new graduation ceremony as part of the comprehensive restructuring of the scheme.

Significantly, the orientation programme, extended from three weeks to six, will be broken into three two-week phases.

The redesigned six-week orientation programme will focus on leadership, entrepreneurship, digital skills, and specialised career pathways.

First two weeks – Civic, leadership, and life skills training

Next two weeks – Basic accounting and financial literacy, access to finance, business planning, and career mapping;

Final two weeks – Short immersion into one’s area of interest.

Public governance expert, Dr Joe Abah affirmed that he was part of the team that recommended the proposed changes to the NYSC reforms.

He said: “I am proud to have contributed to this and grateful that Mr President and FEC approved all our recommendations without any changes. We move!”

Dr. Abah explained that: “On camping, the approved proposal is two weeks of civic, leadership, and life skills training; two weeks of basic accounting and financial literacy, access to finance, business planning, and career mapping; and the last two weeks would be a short immersion into your area of interest. So, you may have read English but be really interested in tech, environment and climate, or the creative sector.

“Camps will be certified and graded to ensure that they meet minimum standards. State governments will be given a grace period during which to ensure they meet the standards for infrastructure, accommodation, safety and security and healthcare.

“Posting will ordinarily be done impersonally using an algorithm that considers factors like state of origin, state of residence, school attended, etc.

“Posting to security flashpoints will be risk-sensitive and people who are not indigenes of those areas or are already residing in those areas should not be posted there.

“Regarding the timing of commencement and wider consultation, the NYSC Act would need to be amended for the changes to take effect. This should include public consultations and public hearings. Every legislation passed and assented to is a product of a series of compromises.” (The Nation, excluding headline)

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