FG Sets Up Committee to Overhaul NYSC Amid Safety and Relevance Concerns
The Federal Government has inaugurated a high-level committee tasked with reforming the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). The initiative aims to make the scheme safer, more impactful, and better aligned with the country’s current socio-economic realities and youth development needs.
The committee was inaugurated on Tuesday in Abuja during a ceremony attended by key stakeholders from government agencies, civil society, and the private sector.
Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, who led the inauguration, acknowledged the NYSC’s historical role in fostering unity and youth engagement since its establishment in 1973. However, he noted that increasing concerns about corps members’ safety, decaying infrastructure, and questions around the scheme’s relevance have made a systemic overhaul both urgent and necessary.
“These challenges, while serious, also present us with a unique opportunity for transformation,” Olawande stated. “We must redesign the NYSC to be more innovative, secure, and aligned with national development goals.”
The committee is expected to conduct a comprehensive review of NYSC operations, consult widely across the country, and propose reforms to policies, laws, and the scheme’s overall structure. A major focus will be improving safety protocols, funding mechanisms, and performance tracking. The final recommendations will be submitted to the Ministry of Youth Development within a specified timeframe.
In a significant policy announcement at the same event, Minister of Education Maruf Tunji Alausa revealed plans to launch a Teachers’ Corps and Medical Corps to deploy trained educators and healthcare workers to underserved rural communities.
“The Teachers’ Corps will not only help bridge educational gaps but also provide a pipeline into government employment,” Alausa explained. “Meanwhile, the Medical Corps will enhance healthcare delivery in areas where maternal and child health remain critical challenges.”
Hadiza Usman, Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, emphasised the importance of strengthening technical and vocational training within the NYSC structure.
“Aligning NYSC with skill development will equip young Nigerians to contribute meaningfully to their communities and to national growth,” Usman said.
