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• New uniform, duration of orientation, civilian leadership, top areas of concern
Since the information became public that the National Youth Service Corps programme would be reformed to give room for a skills-based programme, Nigerians from all walks of life have been expressing their views on the import and otherwise of the new initiative.
One of the major reasons the NYSC was introduced was for graduates of institutions of higher learning to have national identity and integration among the Nigerian youth. It was also meant to instil a sense of unity among Nigerians.
But in spite of all these reasons, the government’s decision to reform the service has opened up new discussions about the service among Nigerians. Many believe that the reform would bring about a vista of opportunities, even as many thought otherwise, noting that there is more to the reform.
Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, disclosed that the NYSC orientation camp would be restructured into three phases, making it a skills-focused, productivity-driven institution aligned with the Federal Government’s economic agenda.
“The first two weeks will focus on civic responsibility, national values, and leadership development. The next two weeks will cover career mapping, financial literacy, business planning, and access to finance.
“The final two weeks will provide specialised training based on each corps member’s chosen career stream.
“Under the new framework, corps members will select one of the newly created 11 specialised streams upon registration and will receive specialised training throughout the orientation programme in preparation for future employment and national service.
“The 11 specialised streams are: Agric Corps, Medical Corps, Education Corps, Tech and Digital Corps, Legal Corps, Public Service Corps, Infrastructure Corps, Green Corps, Enterprise Corps, Creative Economy Corps, and Paramilitary and Security Corps.”
She added that the specialised streams will equip graduates with practical skills tailored to their academic backgrounds, career interests, and the country’s workforce needs.
Usman also explained that the reforms also review deployment procedures, including how corps members are posted across states, with greater consideration for prevailing security realities.
Apart from the skills-based orientation programmes, other notable reviews of the proposed reform, as approved by the Federal Executive Council are the redesign of the NYSC uniform as well as the introduction of a civilian leadership, while the military will continue to provide security for corps members.
The overhaul of the National Youth Service Corps as approved by the Federal Executive Council is the first of its kind in the 53 years of existence of the service.
Former Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Duro Oni, said if the youth corps members are going to make use of the six weeks orientation camp in a valuable manner, by adding value to their knowledge base, then he has no objection to that.
“I think it’s a good idea. And then it also keeps them engaged because some of them are coming from different states and for many of them even traveling to the camp can take a whole day or more.
“So, if the orientation exercise is extended to six weeks, I don’t have any objection to that. I think it’s a good idea so far it is to engage the corps members very well.
“Universities are not programmed for acquiring skills. When the NYSC started in May 1973, at some point, it also involved graduates of NCE programme who are already skilled as teachers. And then we have polytechnics graduates and first degree holders who are already trained.”
Prof. Oni, however, expressed concern about the changing of the leadership of the NYSC, as well as the change in the uniform of the corps.
“I think the role of the military is beyond providing security. I see the NYSC as a paramilitary establishment. The military officers that are the DGs are not just the regular military officer, but they are from the Nigerian Army Educational Corps, all of whom are graduates and well trained.
“If you look at the previous Directors General of the NYSC from the beginning, they were all military officers of note.
“In my view, I think they should maintain the military to head the NYSC as there is a large military presence in the camps. If they have a civilian and you want the military officers to salute a civilian director or head of parastatals, I don’t think it is right.
“The military camp of the NYSC is paramilitary. When the commander shows up, the corps members keep to their toes, and all of them tend to behave better.
“I still want them to retain the military because I see the NYSC programme as a paramilitary establishment. The youth corps members wake up in the morning, they do some exercises to get fit and healthy.
“Some of them come out of the three weeks camp feeling healthier. They wear their uniforms with pride. The White and Green T-shirts are their pride. In some communities, they give them special treatment.
“The uniform has become so popular and well liked. So why are we changing that? Can’t we use the uniform for 200 years? Who is designing the new outfit? At what point was the idea of the change of the uniform debated?
“We don’t just make changes for the sake of making changes. I don’t see anything wrong in the outfit of the youth corps members, and I don’t see anything wrong in military heading the hierarchy of the NYSC as Director Generals,” he stated.
In his remarks, Associate Professor/Consultant Clinical Psychologist, CMUL/LUTH, Dr. Umeh, said in 1973 when the NYSC programme was established, the major reason was national integration.
“People like me and a large fraction of Nigerian youth had their first experiences in the north through the NYSC programme.
“Obviously, there’s a paradigm shift from this to make it focus more on entrepreneurship, employability, and productivity purposes. Then, I think the reform will challenge why people go to school because the six weeks orientation camp and the one year service will not be enough for the desired productivity and employability criteria.
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“So, the question is: why do people go to universities to pursue different courses? Are we now saying that the universities are no more producing graduates that are employable by the industry?
“If that is the case, I think NYSC should not be the ground for these things. Let us look into the university curriculum and marry it with what is happening in the industries so that once we have these graduates, they are ready for employment.
“Orientation to me should focus on this cultural aspect or a kind of military discipline that can instil discipline that every Nigerian will need to excel in whatever they do. It should be a training ground.
“However, they should focus on national identity, national integration, and a kind of civic responsibility,” he said.
According to the don, NYSC should liaise with the National Orientation Agency to build a psyche of national identity. Youth corps members should know that they are Nigerians. There’s a need to catch them young so that they should be able to preach one Nigeria.
“There are some advantages you can get from this, and a lot of disadvantages as well.
“For instance, replacing the military leadership of the NYSC with civilian leadership is kind of aligning the NYSC closer to its initial educational objectives. The military has regimented ways of doing things. Therefore, by the time you bring a civilian, I think it will bring more flexibility to the way things are carried out.
“At present, NYSC has been bedevilled by so many issues, including insecurity, poor salary, lack of infrastructure, and poor funding.
“By the time you move the orientation camp from three weeks to six weeks, where is the funding going to come from; The feeding, the infrastructure, the healthcare, and the logistics; How are these going to be financed?
“We all hear stories of what our youth corps members are going through in their orientation camp. So, by the time they extend it, what is going to happen to them, especially as regards security, even now that security has become a big issue.
“I know many Nigerians would not want their sons or daughters that just graduated from university to go to vulnerable states like Zamfara. There are issues with this reform that need to be tackled before the take-off of the reform programme.
“These include inadequate funding, insecurity, poor coordination problems, inconsistent political commitment, insufficient trainers, and so many other issues,” he said.
An Abuja based project management consultant, Mr.Alex Ijeomah, also weighed in on the reform.
He said the extension from three to six weeks allows for deeper induction rather than the crashed and often overloaded induction programme, improved civic education enriched with national values for national transformation, and more time for skills acquisition training.
“It would also improve corps members’ discipline and preparedness for competitiveness in the traditional and contemporary society but may also increase the cost of feeding, accommodation, and time away from primary assignments.”
He maintained that the introduction of skill-based/vocational orientation would also align NYSC with job creation and self-employment goals which, he said, was a move in the right direction and a paradigm shift from the status quo.
“By teaching practical skills depending on the design of the curriculum for the induction like ICT, agriculture, tailoring, catering, corps members can leave service with a trade and an investment/entrepreneur mentality rather than a white collar job seeking mentality. The success will depend largely on the quality of trainers, tools, and post-service funding/support.”
He pointed out that the redesigning of NYSC uniform also has a morale boosting effect. According to him, the redesigned uniform can serve various purposes.
“Apart from boosting the morale of the corps, members, it also enhances both corporate and national identity, integration and professionalism. However, it must be cost-effective and durable for corps members and should reflect both functionality and national unity rather than just aesthetics.
“Meanwhile, the introduction of civilian leadership as the head of the NYSC programme aligns with our democratic system of governance instead of military leadership.
“This signals a shift towards proper administrative process with accountability and sustainable development. This can improve policy implementation and reduce militarisation, while the military continues to provide security — a balance between welfare and safety.”
Ijeomah said that though this was the first major restructuring of the NYSC programme in 53 years, it showed government’s recognition that the original 1973 mandate needs to evolve with current realities of unemployment and insecurity.
“It also positioned the NYSC to be more relevant to Nigeria’s 21st-century challenges but will require proper funding and monitoring to avoid policy-on-paper syndrome.
“As for me, if the reform is properly implemented, corps members can become contributors to MSMEs and agriculture instead of just job seekers. Partnerships with SMEDAN, BOI, and private sector will be key for sustainability.
“The security arrangement must be topnotch because retaining the military for security addresses a major concern of corps members’ safety, especially in volatile states. This dual structure — civilian administration with military security — can help maintain order during orientation while focusing leadership on welfare and skills,” he said.
Miss Temitope Adeola , a serving youth corps member, said she was not comfortable with part of the reform programme.
According to her, the change in the leadership of the NYSC as well as the change in the uniform of the NYSC are not necessary.
“I am comfortable with the six weeks extension for the orientation programme if it will achieve the original goals for which it was extended because the first one week has always been full of struggle to survival, as many youth corps members try to adjust and be used to the system.
“However, the rest of the two weeks become normal and at the end of last week, it will be as if the whole of the three weeks aren’t enough. So, I support the extension of the orientation programme.
“But there is no need to change the uniform. The uniform is our pride. Anywhere you are, the uniform raises your self-esteem, and you feel respected as a youth corps member. So the idea of changing the uniform would not go down well with many of us.
“The Federal Government should retain the uniform and ensure there is effective security across the country because these days, the security situation in the country is affecting every aspect of our national life,” she said.
