President  has defended his administration’s sweeping reforms of the  (NYSC), stating that the changes are aimed at equipping young Nigerians with practical skills, boosting employability and positioning them as key drivers of national development.

In a post shared on his official X account on Wednesday, Tinubu described the reforms approved by the Federal Executive Council as the most significant overhaul of the scheme since its establishment in 1973.

According to the President, the reforms fulfil a promise he made during his inauguration to create meaningful opportunities for young people and ensure they play a central role in his administration.

“On Monday, at the Federal Executive Council, our administration approved the most consequential reforms of the National Youth Service Corps scheme since its establishment in 1973,” Tinubu said.

“On the day I was sworn in as your President, I promised to create meaningful opportunities for our young people. I said women and youth would feature prominently in our administration and this reform is partly the actualisation of that promise.”

Tinubu acknowledged that while the NYSC has contributed to national unity for over five decades, evolving national realities demand a broader and more impactful mandate.

“Our young people are nearly 70 per cent of our population. They are not a burden to be managed; they are the engine of the one-trillion-dollar economy we are building and the hope of this nation,” he said.

“We are repositioning the NYSC from a mobilisation scheme into a national development platform focused on skills, employability, productivity and enterprise.”

Under the new framework, the NYSC orientation programme will be extended to six weeks. It will begin with civic responsibility, leadership, values and personal development, before advancing to career readiness, entrepreneurship, digital and financial literacy, as well as specialised training tailored to corps members’ academic backgrounds and career paths.

The President noted that the specialised streams will cover sectors such as agriculture, education, health, technology, law, public service, infrastructure, the green economy, enterprise, the creative industry and paramilitary and security services.

Tinubu also announced measures to enhance the safety of corps members. Deployment to security-challenged states, he said, will be guided by risk assessments, with priority given to indigenes, residents, graduates of institutions within those states and neighbouring states in the same geopolitical zone.

“The call-up process will become technology-driven and primary assignments will be better aligned with each corps member’s skills, academic background, and chosen career stream,” he added.

The reforms also introduce a new leadership structure for the scheme. The NYSC will now be headed by a civilian Director-General, supported by three Executive Directors, including one from the military or paramilitary services responsible for security.

Additionally, orientation camps will be evaluated under a national grading and certification framework, while the traditional Passing-Out Parade will be replaced with a Graduation Ceremony to reflect the expanded scope of the programme.

Tinubu disclosed that he has directed the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and the Federal Ministry of Justice to commence the process of amending the NYSC Act and other relevant regulations to provide legal backing for the reforms.

He also commended the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande and his Special Adviser on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman and the members of reform committee for their contributions.

Addressing young Nigerians, the President concluded: “This nation believes in you. We are building a country worthy of your talent, your ambition, and your future.”