FG establishes reform committee for NYSC, proposes service for NCE holders

The Federal Government has inaugurated a reform committee tasked with carrying out a comprehensive overhaul of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), to strengthen its structure, relevance, and impact.

IDOMA VOICE gathered that, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, announced the initiative on Tuesday at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja. The event was attended by key stakeholders from government agencies, civil society groups, and the private sector.

Olawande explained that the reform seeks to align the NYSC more closely with national development goals and the evolving needs of young Nigerians. While acknowledging the NYSC’s long-standing contributions to national unity and youth empowerment since its inception in 1973, the minister emphasized the need to modernize the scheme.

“It’s time to reassess and revamp the NYSC to reflect today’s realities,” Olawande said. “Issues like corps members’ safety, infrastructural deficits, and the broader questions surrounding the relevance of the scheme in today’s dynamic socio-economic landscape are challenges. But they also present opportunities that require urgent, visionary, and decisive action.”

The committee will be responsible for reviewing all existing policy documents, reports, and legal frameworks guiding the operations of the NYSC. It will engage stakeholders across the country through consultations and public forums, recommend legal, policy, and institutional reforms to the NYSC Act and its operational guidelines, and propose strategies for improved funding, monitoring, and evaluation. A comprehensive report is expected to be submitted to the Minister of Youth Development within the agreed timeframe.

At the event, Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, proposed the introduction of a Teachers’ Corps for NCE-certified graduates and a Medical Corps for healthcare professionals. These optional two-year programs would deploy volunteers to serve in rural communities.

Alausa noted that the Teachers’ Corps would help close educational gaps while creating a pathway to government employment, whereas the Medical Corps would enhance healthcare delivery in underserved areas, especially in maternal and child health.

Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, stressed the need to restructure technical and vocational skills training. She emphasized that aligning such training with academic development would empower Nigerian youths to contribute meaningfully and sustainably to their communities and the broader national interest.