Nigeria’s government has announced a sweeping reform of its mandatory youth service scheme, which will see the iconic khaki uniforms replaced with locally produced traditional “Adire” fabric.
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), established in 1973 to foster national unity after the Nigerian civil war, is undergoing its first major overhaul in over half a century.
The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, confirmed the changes during an interview on Channels Television, stating that the move is aimed at boosting the local economy.
“Adire is being produced in Nigeria. We have them in Ogun; we have them in Kwara; we have a textile industry. Let’s put our money back into the country,” Mr Olawande said.
Targeted postings
Under the new framework, which was approved by the Federal Executive Council, university and college graduates will no longer be randomly deployed. Instead, they will be posted to sectors that match their fields of study.
“After leaving the camp, you are not just posted to a school just because NYSC wants you to be in a school, but because of the process you followed when in camp,” the minister explained.
Security has also heavily influenced the new policy. Nigeria has faced a decade-long insurgency in the north-east, as well as widespread kidnapping and banditry in other regions.
To address the anxieties of parents and participants, the government plans to post graduates to regions where they studied or are already familiar with the environment.
“Instead of redeploying you, paying people for camp, doing all those funny things, we said no… let us look at who can reside in those geographical areas and still give us the numbers we are looking for,” Mr Olawande added.
Civilian leadership
The minister also dismissed rumours that the military would be completely removed from the scheme. While the operational leadership of the NYSC will now be headed by a civilian, the military will continue to provide security support.
The Ministry of Youth Development and the Attorney-General have been directed to amend the NYSC Act to legally cement the new regulations.
The NYSC is a mandatory one-year programme for Nigerian graduates under the age of 30. While it has long been praised for promoting cultural integration, it has faced growing criticism in recent years over the safety of participants travelling across the country.
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