In response to increasing concerns about the relevance and safety of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the Federal Government has established a committee to initiate reforms aimed at modernizing the scheme.
At the launch of the reform initiative in Abuja, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, emphasized that while the NYSC remains a crucial national tool for unity and youth development, it requires significant changes to address contemporary challenges.
Olawande stated that the committee will focus on key issues such as the safety of corps members, inadequate infrastructure, and whether the scheme continues to serve the nation’s evolving social and economic needs.
“The review process will lead to proposals that will make the NYSC more creative, secure, and effective in empowering Nigerian youth,” Olawande said. “This is a chance to reshape the NYSC into a more strategic tool for national development and youth engagement.”
The reform committee will engage with people across the country, assess current policies, suggest legal changes, and recommend improved funding and monitoring practices. A comprehensive report will be submitted to the minister within a specified timeframe.
During the same event, the Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, announced plans to introduce two new arms to the NYSC: a Teachers’ Corps and a Medical Corps. These initiatives will recruit NCE holders and healthcare professionals to serve in underserved rural areas.
Alausa explained that the Teachers’ Corps would address educational gaps and provide a direct path to government employment, while the Medical Corps would strengthen healthcare services in remote regions.
Presidential adviser Hadiza Usman also highlighted the importance of enhancing vocational and technical training, stating that such programs would enable Nigerian youth to make more meaningful contributions to their communities and the country as a whole.
