FG Extends NYSC Orientation Camp to Six Weeks, Scraps Military Drills

The Federal Executive Council on Monday approved a far-reaching reform of the National Youth Service Corps, introducing a civilian-led management structure, extending the orientation camp from three to six weeks and replacing the traditional passing-out parade with a graduation ceremony.

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The decisions were reached during the Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The council also directed the amendment of the NYSC Act to provide legal backing for the reforms.

Briefing journalists after the meeting, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, said the changes followed a comprehensive review initiated in 2025 to reposition the scheme from a mobilisation programme into a platform focused on skills acquisition, job creation and national development.

According to him, the review identified several challenges, including outdated legal provisions, weak links between education and employment, and concerns over the safety and welfare of corps members. 

He said the reforms were designed to make the scheme more responsive to the country's current economic realities.

As part of the restructuring, corps members will now be required to enrol in one of 11 specialised streams based on their academic qualifications and career interests.

The streams include agriculture, medical services, education, technology and digital innovation, legal services, public service, infrastructure, green economy, enterprise, creative economy, and paramilitary and security.

The orientation programme has also been redesigned into three phases spanning six weeks. 

The first phase will focus on civic responsibility, leadership and national values, while the second will cover entrepreneurship, financial literacy, career development and access to funding. 

The final phase will provide practical training tailored to each participant's chosen stream.

The government also approved a new management structure that places the NYSC under a civilian Director-General, supported by three executive directors.

However, military personnel will continue to oversee security operations to ensure the safety of corps members across the country.

The Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala-Usman, described the reform as the first comprehensive overhaul of the scheme since its establishment in 1973. 

She said the initiative aligns with the Federal Government's plan to build a $1tn economy by producing a more skilled and productive youth population.

Bala-Usman added that the new framework would also redesign the NYSC uniform to reflect a more professional identity while preserving its distinctive features.

She disclosed that the Attorney-General of the Federation had been directed to work with the Ministry of Youth Development to amend the NYSC Act and other relevant regulations to facilitate immediate implementation of the reforms.

Also at the meeting, the council approved the upgrade of the Snakebite Treatment Centre in Kaltungo, Gombe State, into a National Snakebite Research and Medical Centre, alongside health and aviation projects worth over N128bn, including the procurement of tuberculosis and reproductive health commodities, blood donation vehicles and the construction of the Gboko airstrip in Benue State.