By Adesina Wahab
The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has said any review of the National Youth Service Corps Scheme, NYSC, must see it adapt to contemporary needs, not just for the sake of review.
The student body, through the National Public Relations Officer, Obidah David, stated this in response to the Presidency’s comments on the proposed review of the scheme.
“Ultimately, the success of these reforms will depend on effective implementation. Any changes introduced should preserve the founding ideals of the NYSC of national integration, youth empowerment, and service to the nation while adapting to contemporary needs such as employability, digital skills development, security awareness, and entrepreneurship,” he said.
On the plan to replace the military Director General of the scheme with a civilian head, NANS noted that it would promote participatory leadership.
“The replacement of a military Director-General with a civilian head represents a significant shift towards a more civilian-oriented governance structure within the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). In my view, this transition has the potential to promote participatory leadership, strengthen policy-driven administration, enhance youth development initiatives, and encourage institutional reforms beyond a traditional command-and-control approach.
“A civilian-led leadership structure will also improve collaboration between the NYSC, educational institutions, private organisations, and other youth-focused stakeholders. However, the effectiveness of this reform will largely depend on the competence, experience, and leadership capacity of the appointed civilian head to sustain the objectives and values of the scheme.”
On extending the orientation period from three to six weeks, Obidah opined that it would provide significant benefits to corps members.
“A longer orientation period would create more opportunities for comprehensive leadership training, skills acquisition, civic education, and better preparation for national service, in line with the objectives of the proposed reform.
“However, the success of this extension will depend on adequate planning, improved facilities, enhanced welfare, and the delivery of a well-structured programme that adds meaningful value to corps members.
Speaking generally on the proposed reforms, he stated, “The proposed NYSC reforms present an opportunity to modernise the scheme and make it more responsive to the changing realities of Nigeria. Initiatives that strengthen leadership structures, improve skills development, enhance youth empowerment, and increase the relevance of the programme are important steps towards repositioning the NYSC.”
