The federal government has inaugurated a committee to reform the National Youth Service Corps ,NYSC, scheme.
The development was announced on Tuesday by Omolara Esan, the Public Relations Director at the Federal Ministry of Youth Development.
Esan said the reform is aimed at strengthening the structure, relevance, and impact of the NYSC, while aligning it more closely with Nigeria’s national development priorities and the evolving needs of young people.
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony in Abuja, the Minister of Youth Development, Mr. Ayodele Olawande, said the NYSC scheme has played a crucial role in promoting national unity and youth empowerment since its establishment in 1973.
He said the time has come to “reassess and modernise” the NYSC to address current realities.
“The issue of safety of corps members, infrastructural deficits, and the broader question about the relevance of the scheme in an increasingly dynamic socio-economic landscape are some of the challenges faced,” he said.
“But these also present opportunities that demand urgent, visionary, and determined action.”
Olawande added that the committee has been mandated to conduct a “comprehensive review” of the scheme and recommend reforms to reposition it as a “secure, innovative, and impactful institution.”
The committee’s terms of reference which includes reviewing existing policy and legal frameworks guiding the scheme, would also engage in stakeholder consultations nationwide; recommending amendments to the NYSC Act and operational guidelines; and proposing a framework for improved funding, monitoring, and evaluation.
The minister also stressed that the outcome of the review must align with national development objectives and strengthen the NYSC’s role as a tool for youth empowerment and nation-building.
