FEC reforms NYSC, to be headed by civilians

•Introduces professional training for corps members to boost employability

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

ABUJA — The Federal Executive Council, FEC, yesterday approved sweeping reforms to the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, announcing that the scheme will now be headed by a civilian instead of a military officer.

Briefing State House correspondents after the FEC meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, said the reforms would also introduce professional training programmes for corps members to enhance their employability and entrepreneurial skills.

He explained that the NYSC would retain its one-year service duration while incorporating flexible, skills-based training programmes into the service year. Under the new framework, he said, the scheme would remain civilian-led, while the Nigerian military would continue to be responsible for the security of corps members nationwide.