The Federal Government has announced plans for a major overhaul of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), introducing a new co-funding structure and governance model aimed at transforming the scheme into a digitally enabled and financially sustainable institution.
At a stakeholders’ forum in Abuja on Monday, Hadiza Bala-Usman, Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, said the NYSC must evolve beyond the analogue, centralised framework it has operated under for more than 50 years.
She noted that while the scheme has long served as a symbol of national unity, its current operational model is overstretched and no longer aligned with the country’s manpower and economic realities.
Bala-Usman explained that a comprehensive diagnostic review revealed weak state participation, fiscal strain, outdated processes and skills programmes that do not match labour market needs.
She said the reform committee has proposed amendments to the NYSC Act to support digital operations, gender-sensitive deployment, and a shared funding plan involving states and local governments.
The recommendations also include a unified digital service portal, stricter obligations for employers of corps members, a three-level governance structure, and a revamped skills development system anchored on zonal innovation hubs.
A ₦2 billion innovation fund has been proposed to drive the transition.
Implementation of the reforms is expected to begin in 2026 with legislative changes and digital pilots, and conclude in 2028 with full nationwide deployment under a sector-driven model.
Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, said the reforms are focused on equipping corps members for employment and entrepreneurship rather than dependence on public sector jobs, especially as annual mobilisation continues to rise.
NYSC Director-General Olakunle Nafiu added that the scheme has expanded dramatically from about 2,000 corps members in 1973 to roughly 400,000 today, making reform inevitable.
Also speaking, NITDA Director-General Kashifu Inuwa said strengthening digital training within the scheme could position Nigerian youths for global remote work opportunities, potentially earning the country tens of billions of dollars annually.