Federal government announces major restructuring of NYSC program

The Federal Government, through the Federal Executive Council (FEC), has approved sweeping changes to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, introducing a new structure for orientation camps, postings, leadership, and funding for corps members.

Under the reforms, orientation camp duration will be extended from three weeks, previously dominated by marching and drills, to six weeks divided into three phases. The first two weeks will focus on mindset and leadership training, covering civic duties, national values, and leadership development. Weeks three and four will introduce a business school component, teaching corps members money management, business plan writing, and personal branding. In the final two weeks, participants will be grouped into one of 11 specialised career tracks, including the Agric Corps, Tech Corps, and Creative Economy Corps, based on their academic background and preferences.

The postings system is also being overhauled to end random deployments. Corps members will now be placed according to their field of study, meaning, for instance, accounting graduates will be assigned roles related to financial management. Leadership of the NYSC will shift from a military general to a civilian head, with the military’s role narrowed to camp security, while the scheme’s traditional khaki uniform will undergo a modern redesign. The customary passing-out parade will be replaced with a formal graduation ceremony.

To curb the use of fake degrees, prospective corps members will be required to have their final year project and academic data uploaded to a new national verification system known as NERD before they can register for service. The registration process will also incorporate smart technology designed to prevent deployment to dangerous or high-risk areas.

In a move to support post-service entrepreneurship, at least 5,000 corps members with viable business plans will be eligible for grants of up to ₦10 million to launch their own companies upon completion of service.

The government has also signalled a longer-term plan to extend the NYSC service period from one year to two, with the first year dedicated to intensive training and the second focused on work service, particularly the deployment of teachers to rural schools.