The Federal Government has confirmed that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) will replace its traditional khaki uniform with Adire fabric as part of the sweeping reforms recently approved for the scheme.
The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, disclosed this on Thursday during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, describing the move as part of efforts to promote local manufacturing and keep government spending within the Nigerian economy.
According to the minister, the new Adire uniform will be produced locally, creating opportunities for Nigeria’s textile industry while supporting indigenous businesses.
“It’s Adire. So, Adire is being produced in Nigeria. We have them in Ogun, we have them in Kwara, we have textile industry. Let’s put our money back into the country,” Olawande said.
The announcement marks one of the major changes under the Federal Government’s comprehensive overhaul of the NYSC, the first significant reform of the scheme since it was established in 1973.
Skill-Based Posting for Corps Members
Beyond the uniform change, the minister revealed that corps members will increasingly be posted according to their academic qualifications and areas of expertise.
He explained that graduates with education-related degrees, for instance, would be deployed to schools instead of being assigned randomly, a move aimed at making the service year more productive and impactful.
“After you are leaving the camp, you are not just posted to a school just because NYSC wants you to be in school but because of the process you followed when in camp,” he said.
New Deployment Strategy
Olawande also said the government is considering deploying prospective corps members to regions where they studied or are familiar with, especially in areas facing security challenges.
According to him, the approach would help ease concerns among parents and corps members while improving the effectiveness of the deployment process.
He noted that graduates who are already familiar with particular regions could be given priority for deployment there, although those willing to serve elsewhere would still have the opportunity to do so.
Military Still Part of NYSC
The minister dismissed reports suggesting the military would be removed from the NYSC, describing such claims as a misunderstanding of the approved reforms.
He clarified that while the operational leadership of the scheme would transition to civilian administration, the military would continue to play its role, particularly in providing security and supporting orientation camp activities.
“We are not taking the military out of NYSC. There is no how you can take the military away. It is just saying that we are moving away from military mobilisation to civilian mobilisation,” he explained.
Part of Wider NYSC Reforms
The reforms follow the approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) of a comprehensive restructuring of the NYSC.
As part of the decision, the FEC directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Ministry of Youth Development to amend the NYSC Act and its regulations to accommodate the approved changes.
The Federal Government said the reforms are designed to transform the NYSC into a skills-oriented, productivity-driven and youth-empowerment programme that aligns with its broader goal of building a $1 trillion economy, while ensuring corps members contribute more effectively to national development.