NYSC Reforms: Corps Members Must Wear Adire, Not Khaki – FG

The Federal Government has confirmed that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) will replace its iconic khaki uniform with Adire fabric as part of sweeping reforms recently approved for the 53-year-old programme.

The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, disclosed this during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Thursday, saying the move aims to promote local manufacturing and ensure public spending supports the Nigerian economy.

Recall that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Monday approved a comprehensive reform of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) since it was established in 1973.

Adire uniforms to be produced locally

Responding to the question whether the new uniforms would be produced locally, Olawande said the Adire fabric would be sourced from Nigerian textile manufacturers.

“It’s Adire. Adire is made in Nigeria. We have them in Ogun; we have them in Kwara; we have textile industries. We put our money back into the country,” he said.

Publication to reflect academic qualifications

The minister also announced that under the new reforms, corps members will increasingly be seconded based on their academic qualifications and career paths rather than through the current general deployment system.

He explained that graduates trained as teachers, for example, would be assigned to schools after undergoing appropriate training during the orientation camp.

“After leaving the camp, you are not assigned to a school just because the NYSC wants you there, but because of the process you went through in the camp. This will determine where you will be assigned,” Olawande said.

The government examines the distribution policy

On security, the minister said the government is reviewing deployment policy to allow more corps members to serve in areas they have studied or are familiar with, particularly in states facing security challenges.

According to him, the agreement would reduce the need for redistribution while addressing concerns raised by parents and potential corps members.

He said: “If we have a particular area that has insecurity, instead of probably forcing people or parents to start talking, we also need to give them the opportunity to say ‘ok, who are the ones in that area, who have studied in that area, who know a lot about that area?’ Not just someone, for example, let’s say from the South-West to the North-East.

“If you’re interested in going to the Northeast, why not, but if you have no interest, instead of reassigning yourself, paying people for camp, doing all that fun stuff, we said no, let’s look at it and say who are the ones in that area, who can reside in those geographic areas and still give us the kind of numbers that we’re looking for since we’re saying NYSC should have more impact. So, that’s what we’re talking about,” he said.

The Army remains part of the NYSC

He also dismissed reports that the military had been removed from the NYSC program, describing such claims as a misunderstanding.

Olawande clarified that although the operational leadership of the program will be led by a civilian, the military will continue to play its traditional role in ensuring the safety of corps members.

“The army is not being taken away, there is no way to take it away. It is just saying that we are moving from military mobilization to civilian mobilization,” he said.

Orientation course extended

Under the new framework, the orientation course has been extended to six weeks with greater emphasis on entrepreneurship, professional skills, civic responsibility and employability.

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday said the reforms aim to equip young Nigerians with practical skills and prepare them for national development.