Nigerian Youths Raise Fresh Concerns Over Tinubu’s Proposed NYSC Changes

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Some Nigerian youth advocates have rejected the proposed reforms to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The position of the group was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the President of a youth coalition, Abdulrahman Sani, and its Secretary, Grace Nwafor.

President Tinubu recently unveiled a package of reforms for the NYSC, marking the first major review of the scheme since its establishment in 1973.

Among the proposed changes are the introduction of civilian leadership in place of the current military-style structure and the implementation of a three-phase orientation camp.

However, the youth coalition, led by Sani and Nwafor, has appealed to the Federal Government to retain the existing leadership framework of the scheme.

They argued that removing the traditional structure could weaken one of Nigeria’s longest-standing institutions for promoting national unity, discipline, and emergency service.

According to the group, any reform should preserve the core identity of a programme that has served the country for more than five decades.

“We sincerely beg him to pause this process and allow broader stakeholder engagement before any irreversible decision is taken.

“It would be unfortunate if the NYSC gradually loses its identity and becomes known merely as another government skills acquisition program. Skills are important, but they are not the reason the scheme was created. Its greatest achievement has been bringing young Nigerians together across ethnic, religious, and regional divides at a time when our country desperately needed healing. 

“Across the world, countries such as Singapore, South Korea, Israel and Switzerland continue to expose their young citizens to structured national or military service because they understand that national development depends not only on knowledge but also on discipline, sacrifice and civic responsibility. Nigeria should strengthen that tradition rather than weaken it.

“When COVID-19 placed enormous pressure on our healthcare system, it was not only permanent government workers who answered the call. Hundreds of NYSC doctors, nurses, pharmacists and laboratory scientists stood on the frontlines in isolation centres and public hospitals across the country. During elections, disease outbreaks and humanitarian emergencies, corps members have repeatedly proven that the NYSC is a national emergency asset, not just a youth programme.”

The youth advocates also dismissed suggestions that the reforms would introduce digital innovation into the NYSC, insisting that key aspects of the scheme, including mobilisation, deployment, documentation, and records management, have already been largely digitised.

“It is difficult to present digitalisation as a new reform when the NYSC has, for years, operated one of the most advanced digital administrative systems in the public service. The bigger challenge is funding. Give the scheme adequate resources, modern facilities and stronger welfare, and it will continue to deliver even greater value to Nigeria.”

The coalition further urged the National Assembly to ensure that any proposed amendment to the NYSC Act is subjected to broad public consultations, maintaining that reforms affecting millions of Nigerian youths should reflect the opinions of those who have managed, participated in, and benefited from the scheme over the years.

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