President Bola Tinubu’s proposed reforms to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have drawn mixed reactions from serving and former corps members, with many welcoming efforts to modernise the scheme while insisting that employment opportunities, security and effective implementation should take priority over cosmetic changes.
The respondents, drawn from Lagos and Ogun states, shared divergent views on the proposed reforms, including replacing military drills with civilian leadership training, introducing Adire as a possible new uniform and restructuring the scheme to better prepare graduates for employment.
Many respondents acknowledged that the NYSC has continued to play an important role in fostering national unity, but argued that the programme requires deeper reforms to remain relevant to today’s realities.
Ologbo Ifeoluwa, a graduate of Afe Babalola University serving in Abuja, described the NYSC as a platform that promotes national integration while exposing graduates to practical knowledge.
She supported the proposed shift from military drills to civilian leadership training, saying it would place greater emphasis on acquiring useful skills rather than military-style activities.
According to her, the reforms could improve graduates’ employability if properly implemented and if corps members are posted according to their academic disciplines.
However, she opposed the proposed adoption of Adire as the official NYSC uniform, arguing that a design associated with one region may not adequately reflect Nigeria’s diversity.
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She instead urged the government to strengthen partnerships between NYSC and private companies to provide internship opportunities while prioritising security and corps members’ welfare. She rated the current scheme six out of 10.
Similarly, Mariam Ogedengbe, serving in Lagos, noted that insecurity has significantly reduced graduates’ enthusiasm for the programme.
She said the success of the reforms would ultimately depend on effective implementation, stressing that Nigeria has witnessed several well-conceived policies that failed because they were poorly executed.
Although she described Adire as attractive, she recommended stricter supervision of Places of Primary Assignment (PPA) and urged the government to focus on job creation for young people. She rated the scheme 6.5 out of 10.
For Opeloyeru Arafat, an Architecture graduate serving in Lagos, the NYSC should become more productivity-driven.
She believes replacing military drills with civilian leadership could make the programme more flexible, while career-oriented postings could improve employability and reduce unemployment.
Her recommendations include creating more jobs and ensuring greater transparency in the posting process. She gave the programme five out of 10.
Not all respondents were convinced the reforms would make any meaningful difference.
A former corps member, Olaoluwa Omotolani, argued that the NYSC should be scrapped altogether, claiming many corps members are posted to organisations where they perform little or no meaningful work.
She described the proposed replacement of military drills with civilian leadership training as misplaced, saying it does not address the pressing issue of youth unemployment.
According to her, graduates need guaranteed employment rather than policy adjustments or changes in uniform. She scored the scheme three out of 10.
Ridwan Adeniyi, serving in Lagos, also called for a complete overhaul of the NYSC.
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He maintained that neither the proposed leadership restructuring nor other reforms would solve unemployment and insecurity, adding that changing the uniform should not be a priority.
Instead, he advocated paid internships linked to graduates’ fields of study and stronger efforts to tackle insecurity. He rated the scheme 2.5 out of 10.
Another corps member serving in Abuja, Idowu Ogunsola, described the current situation as disappointing, saying it remains too early to determine whether the reforms would yield positive results.
While preferring the existing khaki uniform, he called for greater transparency in the posting process and stronger efforts to reduce corruption. He awarded the scheme five out of 10.
Oleranwaju Eniola, a Law graduate serving in Lagos, acknowledged that NYSC still retains some value but observed that many graduates now regard it as a compulsory exercise rather than an opportunity for development.
She said the proposed leadership changes were less important than addressing the programme’s core challenges, including security concerns and employer participation.
She recommended allowing prospective corps members to choose deployment states based on security considerations and noted that only a limited number of employers still attach significant importance to NYSC experience. She rated the programme 5.5 out of 10.
Mechanical Engineering graduate Kamsiochukwu Donald also offered a balanced assessment, saying NYSC’s contribution to career development has been inconsistent.
He believes civilian leadership could make the scheme more development-focused and welcomed the idea of promoting local industry through Adire, provided the design reflects Nigeria’s diversity.
He further recommended introducing internationally recognised professional certifications and expanding digital skills training to improve graduates’ competitiveness in the labour market. He rated the scheme 4.5 out of 10.
Across the responses, a clear pattern emerged: while opinions differed on specific reforms, the majority of respondents agreed that job creation, improved security, transparent postings, stronger industry partnerships and practical skills development should receive greater attention than changes in uniforms or ceremonial aspects of the programme.
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