NYSC Corps members and logo
By Victory Oghene
The Federal Government has extended the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) from three weeks to six weeks under a sweeping reform approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), marking what the Federal Government described as the first comprehensive review of the scheme in its 53-year history.
Currently and before this new development, the Corpers undergo three weeks orientation program.
The newly introduced policy is part of a broader overhaul of the NYSC aimed at equipping young Nigerians with leadership, entrepreneurship and digital skills while aligning the scheme with the country’s economic development agenda.
Announcing the development in a statement issued on Monday, June 29, 2026, the Minister of Youth Development, Olawande Ayodele, said FEC had approved the comprehensive reform of the NYSC.
“I am happy to report that the Federal Executive Council today approved the comprehensive reform of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the first holistic review of the Scheme in its 53-year history,” the minister said.
He noted that while the NYSC had served as “a powerful symbol of national unity and service” for more than five decades, the reforms are intended to prepare the scheme for emerging national realities.
“For over five decades, the NYSC has remained a powerful symbol of national unity and ervice. Today, we have taken a bold step to preserve that legacy while preparing it for the future. We are transforming the Scheme into a platform that not only unites Nigeria but also equips our young people with the skills, experience and opportunities they need to thrive in a fast-changing world,” Ayodele stated.
A key feature of the reform is the introduction of “a redesigned six-week orientation programme with stronger focus on leadership, entrepreneurship, digital skills and specialised career streams.”
The minister said the approved reforms would reposition the NYSC into “a skills-driven, productivity-focused and youth-empowering institution” in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of building a $1 trillion economy.
Beyond the extended orientation programme, other reforms approved by the Federal Executive Council include a technology-driven call-up process, risk-sensitive deployment of corps members, skills-based primary assignments aligned with academic qualifications and career pathways, and the introduction of civilian operational leadership while the military continues to provide security support.
The reforms also provide for improved camp standards through a national grading and certification system, as well as the introduction of a new graduation ceremony to replace the Passing Out Parade and a redesigned NYSC uniform “that reflect professionalism and national pride.”
According to the minister, the reform process began in 2025 following extensive consultations involving the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, the Federal Ministry of Education and the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination.
He disclosed that the Federal Executive Council had also directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to begin the amendment of the NYSC Act and its regulations to provide the legal framework required for the implementation of the reforms.
“Today, that hard work has received the endorsement of the Federal Executive Council,” Ayodele said.
Describing the initiative as an investment in Nigeria’s youth, the minister added: “This is more than a reform of an institution. It is an investment in Nigeria’s greatest asset, our young people. The future of the NYSC begins now, and it is brighter, more relevant and more impactful than ever.”
