The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, has confirmed that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) will replace its traditional khaki uniform with Adire fabric as part of the Federal Government’s newly approved reforms of the scheme.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Thursday, Olawande said the decision was aimed at promoting local production, supporting Nigeria’s textile industry and ensuring government spending benefits the local economy.
Responding to a question on whether the new uniform would be produced locally, the minister said, “It’s Adire. Adire is being produced in Nigeria. We have them in Ogun, we have them in Kwara, we have the textile industry. Let’s put our money back into the country.”
He also disclosed that the ongoing restructuring of the NYSC would ensure corps members are deployed based on their academic qualifications and areas of specialisation.
According to him, graduates with education-related degrees would be posted to schools, replacing the current system where corps members are often deployed without consideration for their professional backgrounds.
“After leaving the orientation camp, you are not just posted to a school because NYSC wants you there, but because of the process you followed while in camp. That will provide a framework for where you are eventually posted,” he said.
On security concerns surrounding the scheme, Olawande said the government was considering posting corps members to regions where they studied and are familiar with the environment, particularly in areas facing security challenges.
He explained that the approach would help address concerns raised by parents and prospective corps members while making the deployment process more practical.
“If there is insecurity in a particular area, instead of forcing people or creating unnecessary anxiety, we will consider those who studied there, know the environment and can conveniently serve there. If someone wants to serve in the North-East voluntarily, that is fine. But where there is no such interest, we should look at people who are already familiar with the area rather than redeploying people after camp,” he said.
The minister also dismissed reports suggesting that the military would be removed from the NYSC, describing such claims as a misconception.
He clarified that while the scheme’s operational leadership would be headed by a civilian under the reforms, the military would continue to play its role, particularly in ensuring the security of corps members nationwide.
“We are not taking the military out of NYSC. That is a misconception. There is no way you can remove the military from the scheme. We are simply moving from military mobilisation to civilian mobilisation,” he said.
The reforms follow the approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) of a comprehensive overhaul of the 53-year-old NYSC scheme.
As part of the reforms, the FEC directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to amend the NYSC Act and relevant regulations to provide legal backing for the changes.
Under the new framework, the NYSC will operate under civilian leadership while retaining military support for security. The reforms are also expected to make the scheme more skills-oriented, productivity driven and aligned with the Federal Government’s goal of building a $1 trillion economy.
