President Bola Tinubu has explained why his administration approved recent National Youth Service Corps reforms, saying the changes are aimed at equipping young Nigerians with practical skills and preparing them for national development.

The President also said the reforms, approved by the Federal Executive Council on Monday, were part of his administration’s promise to create meaningful opportunities for young people.

He stated this in a statement posted on his X handle on Wednesday.

“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,” Tinubu said.

He said although the NYSC had served the cause of national unity for more than five decades, the country’s changing realities required a new approach.

“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,” he said.

The President said the orientation programme would now run for six weeks and focus on civic responsibility, leadership, values, career readiness, entrepreneurship, digital and financial literacy, as well as specialised training based on participants’ academic backgrounds and career aspirations.

According to him, corps members will be trained in areas including agriculture, health, education, technology, law, public service, infrastructure, the green economy, enterprise, the creative economy and para-military and security services.

“Every corps member must leave NYSC better prepared for work, enterprise and national service,” he said.

Tinubu also said the reforms would make the scheme safer by introducing risk-based deployment, particularly for security-challenged states.

He explained that deployment would prioritise indigenes, residents, graduates of institutions in affected states and those from neighbouring states within the same geopolitical zones.

“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,” he added.

On governance, Tinubu said the NYSC would now be headed by a civilian Director-General, supported by three Executive Directors, including a Security Services Executive Director who would be a military or paramilitary officer.

He added that orientation camps would be assessed under a national grading and certification framework, while states would be required to meet minimum operational 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,” he said.

Tinubu commended the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, his Special Adviser on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, the Federal Ministry of Education and members of the reform committee for their contributions to the initiative.

He also directed the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and the Federal Ministry of Justice to begin the process of amending the NYSC Act and its subsidiary regulations to give legal backing to the reforms.

“To every young Nigerian: this nation believes in you.

“We are building a country worthy of your talent, your ambition and your future,” the President said. (PUNCH)

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