Coalition Calls For Review Of Proposed NYSC Reforms

A youth advocacy group has called on the Federal Government to subject the proposed reforms of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to wider stakeholder consultations, warning against changes that could undermine the scheme’s core mandate of promoting national unity and youth development.

The Coalition for National Unity and Youth Development made the call in a statement signed by its President, Abdulrahman Sani, and Secretary, Grace Nwafor, urging President Bola Tinubu to suspend the proposed amendments until all critical stakeholders are consulted.

The coalition acknowledged the Federal Government’s intention to modernise the NYSC but maintained that any reform should strengthen, rather than diminish, the institution’s identity and longstanding contributions to nation-building.

It appealed to the President to establish an expanded review committee comprising former NYSC Directors-General, security experts, university administrators, employers, labour unions, youth organisations and civil society groups to examine the proposals before they are forwarded to the National Assembly.

“We respectfully appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to allow a historic national institution to be fundamentally altered without exhaustive consultation. Mr President has consistently demonstrated that he listens to Nigerians, and we urge him to pause this process and allow broader stakeholder engagement before any irreversible decision is taken,” the statement said.

According to the coalition, the NYSC was created primarily to foster national integration after the Nigerian Civil War, stressing that its nation-building role should not be overshadowed by proposals that place greater emphasis on vocational training.

“It would be unfortunate if the NYSC gradually loses its identity and becomes known merely as another government skills acquisition programme. 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,” the group stated.

The coalition also defended the military component of the orientation programme, describing it as a vital tool for instilling discipline, patriotism, teamwork and resilience among corps members.

It noted that countries such as Singapore, South Korea, Israel and Switzerland have retained structured national or military service because of its value in building responsible and disciplined citizens.

The group further highlighted the role of corps members during national emergencies, including elections, disease outbreaks and the COVID-19 pandemic, arguing that the NYSC has evolved into a strategic national asset beyond its traditional youth service mandate.

The coalition dismissed claims that the proposed reforms would introduce digital innovation into the scheme, noting that the NYSC has already digitised mobilisation, deployment, documentation and records management processes.

“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,” it added.

The group also expressed concern that public attention had shifted from substantive policy issues to debates over uniforms, describing the development as evidence that the reform proposals had not been adequately discussed with stakeholders.

“It is telling that what was introduced as a comprehensive reform quickly became a national conversation about uniforms. That alone shows the proposals require deeper engagement before legislative action begins,” the statement said.

The coalition urged the National Assembly to conduct extensive public hearings on any proposed amendment to the NYSC Act, insisting that reforms affecting millions of Nigerian youths should reflect the views of former corps members, administrators, employers, security agencies and other relevant stakeholders.

It also called on the Federal Government to prioritise improved funding, enhanced welfare for corps members and the preservation of the NYSC’s leadership structure, saying these measures would strengthen the scheme without compromising its founding objectives.