FG replaces NYSC khaki uniform with adire in major reform

The Federal Government has announced that the traditional khaki uniform worn by members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) will be replaced with Adire fabric as part of a comprehensive reform of the scheme aimed at promoting local production and repositioning the programme for greater national impact.

Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, disclosed this while speaking on The Morning Brief, a programme aired on Channels Television on Thursday.

According to the minister, the adoption of Adire is intended to strengthen local industries by ensuring government spending supports Nigerian textile producers.

“It’s Adire. Adire is being produced in Nigeria. We have them in Ogun, we have them in Kwara, we have textile industries. Let’s put our money back into the country,” Olawande said.

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Beyond the new uniform, the minister said the Federal Government has approved reforms that will ensure corps members are deployed based on their academic qualifications and professional competencies.

He explained that graduates with education-related qualifications, for example, would be posted to schools, replacing the current practice where corps members are often deployed without consideration for their areas of specialisation.

“That after you are leaving the camp, you are not just posted to a school because NYSC wants you to be in a school, but because of the process you followed while in camp. That will provide a clear framework for your posting,” he said.

On security, Olawande said the government is also considering posting prospective corps members to states or regions where they studied or are already familiar with the environment, particularly in areas facing security challenges.

According to him, the measure is expected to reduce concerns among parents and prospective corps members while making the deployment process more practical and efficient.

“If someone has an interest in serving in another part of the country, they will still have that opportunity. However, where there are security concerns, priority may be given to those who are familiar with such areas,” the minister explained.

Olawande also dismissed reports suggesting that the military would be removed from the NYSC scheme, describing the claims as a misunderstanding of the approved reforms.

He clarified that while the operational leadership of the NYSC will be headed by a civilian, the military will continue to play its role in ensuring the security of corps members and supporting the scheme.

“We are not taking the military out of NYSC. There is no way you can remove the military from the scheme. What we are doing is moving from military mobilisation to civilian mobilisation,” he said.

The reforms follow the approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) of a comprehensive overhaul of the NYSC, the first major review of the scheme since its establishment 53 years ago.

As part of the reforms, the FEC directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to amend the NYSC Act and relevant regulations to accommodate the new changes.

The Federal Government said the reforms are designed to transform the NYSC into a skills-driven, productivity-oriented and youth-empowerment institution that aligns with its broader vision of building a $1 trillion economy.

(Channels TV)