The Federal Government has announced plans to replace the traditional khaki uniform worn by members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) with locally produced Adire fabric as part of a broader reform agenda aimed at repositioning the scheme.
The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, disclosed the development on Thursday during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief. He said the initiative is designed to promote local manufacturing and ensure that government expenditure supports Nigerian industries.
“It’s Adire. Adire is being produced in Nigeria. We have producers in Ogun and Kwara states, and we have a textile industry. Let’s put our money back into the country,” Olawande said.
The minister also revealed that corps members would increasingly be deployed based on their academic qualifications and professional backgrounds under the new framework. According to him, graduates trained in education, for example, would be posted to schools in line with their field of study rather than being assigned arbitrarily.
“After leaving camp, you will not just be posted to a school because NYSC wants you there. Your posting will be determined by the process you follow while in camp. This will provide a framework for where you are deployed,” he explained.
Addressing security concerns, Olawande said the government is considering deploying prospective corps members to regions where they studied and are already familiar with the environment, particularly in areas affected by security challenges.
He noted that the arrangement would help ease concerns among parents and participants while making the deployment process more practical and effective.
“If someone has an interest in serving in the North-East, that is fine. But if they do not, instead of redeploying them after camp and incurring unnecessary costs, we are looking at those who can comfortably reside within their geographical areas and still help us achieve the numbers we need while making NYSC more impactful,” he said.
The minister also dismissed reports suggesting that the military would be removed from the NYSC structure, describing such claims as a misunderstanding of the proposed reforms.
The reforms follow the approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Monday of a comprehensive overhaul of the NYSC, marking the first major reform of the scheme since its establishment in 1973.
As part of the approved changes, the FEC directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to amend the NYSC Act and related regulations to accommodate the new framework.
Under the reforms, the scheme’s operational leadership will be headed by a civilian, while the military will continue to provide security support for corps members across the country.
