The Federal Government has confirmed that members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) will soon wear Adire fabric instead of the traditional khaki uniform as part of wide-ranging reforms approved for the 53-year-old scheme.
The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, made the announcement on Thursday during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief. He said the decision is intended to promote local production, strengthen Nigeria’s textile industry and ensure government spending benefits the nation’s economy.
The reform follows the approval of a comprehensive overhaul of the NYSC by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Monday, marking the most significant changes to the scheme since its establishment in 1973.
Speaking on the new uniform, Olawande said the Adire fabric would be sourced from local textile manufacturers across the country.
“It is Adire. Adire is being produced in Nigeria. We have them in Ogun, we have them in Kwara, and we have textile industries. Let us put our money back into the country,” he said.
The minister also revealed that corps members would now be posted based largely on their academic qualifications and career paths instead of the existing general deployment system.
According to him, graduates trained as teachers, for example, will receive relevant training during the orientation camp before being posted to schools.
“After leaving camp, you are not just posted to a school because NYSC wants you there, but because of the process you followed in camp. That will determine where you are posted,” he explained.
On security, Olawande said the government is reviewing the deployment policy to allow more corps members to serve in states where they studied or are familiar with the environment, especially in areas facing security challenges.
He noted that the move would reduce the need for redeployment while addressing concerns raised by parents and prospective corps members.
The minister explained that those who are familiar with such regions would be given priority for deployment, while those willing to serve in other parts of the country would still have the opportunity to do so voluntarily.
He also dismissed claims that the military would be removed from the NYSC scheme, describing the reports as misleading.
According to him, the military will continue to provide security and support during orientation camps, while the reform only shifts the scheme’s operational leadership from military mobilisation to civilian mobilisation.
“There is no way you can take the military away. We are only moving from military mobilisation to civilian mobilisation,” Olawande said.
Under the new reform package, the NYSC orientation course has been extended from three weeks to six weeks, with greater emphasis on entrepreneurship, vocational skills, civic responsibility and employability.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier stated that the reforms are designed to equip Nigerian youths with practical skills, improve their employability and prepare them to contribute more effectively to national development.
