**as Federal Government unveils sweeping reforms including civilian leadership and skill-based postings
By Florencemary Nwabueze
The minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, as announced on Thursday that the khaki uniform of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) will be replaced with Adire fabric as part of the ongoing scheme reform.
Speaking on Channels Television's The Morning Brief, Olawande revealed that the change is designed to promote local production, strengthen Nigeria's textile industry, and ensure government spending supports the domestic economy.
"It's Adire. So, Adire is being produced in Nigeria. We have them in Ogun, we have them in Kwara, we have textile industry. Let's put our money back into the country," the minister stated.
The announcement follows the Federal Executive Council's approval on Monday of the first comprehensive restructuring of the NYSC since the scheme was established 1973.
Beyond the uniform change, Olawande outlined significant reforms to the corps members' deployment process. Under the new framework, graduates will be posted based on their academic qualifications and professional skills rather than the current system where postings are often unrelated to their field of study.
"That after you are leaving the camp, you are not just posted to a school just because NYSC wants you to be in school but because of the process you followed when in camp," the minister explained.
The government is also reviewing deployment procedures to address security concerns, particularly in regions facing challenges. Prospective corps members may be posted to states where they studied or are already familiar with the environment.
"If we have a particular area that is having insecurity, instead of probably forcing people or parents to start talking, we must also give them an opportunity that 'okay, who are those in that area, that schooled in that area, that know much about that area?'" Olawande said.
The minister dismissed reports that the military would be removed from the NYSC, describing the claims as a misunderstanding of the approved reforms.
"We are not taking the military out of NYSC, it's just a misconception. Military is not taken away, there is no how you can take the military away. It is just saying that we are moving away from military mobilisation to civilian mobilisation." He said
While the scheme's operational leadership will be headed by a civilian, the military will continue to play a key role in camp activities and the security of corps members.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and the Ministry of Youth Development have been directed to amend the NYSC Act and relevant regulations to give legal backing to the changes, and to significantly transform the youth service scheme , and modernise it while promoting local industry and addressing contemporary security realities.
The Federal Government believe that the reforms will transform the NYSC into a skills-driven and productivity-focused institution aligned with the Federal Government's broader economic development agenda.