The Federal Government has approved a comprehensive reform of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), marking the most significant overhaul of the scheme since its establishment in 1973. The reforms include replacing military leadership with a civilian Director-General, restructuring the one-year service into 11 specialised skills-based streams, redesigning the orientation camp programme and uniforms, and amending the NYSC Act to give legal backing to the changes.

The approvals were made during the Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja. The government said the reforms are aimed at transforming the NYSC from a mobilisation programme into a platform for skills acquisition, job creation, productivity and national development.

The council also approved the establishment of a National Snakebite Research and Medical Centre in Kaltungo, Gombe State, alongside ₦128.29 billion for key health and aviation projects. According to the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Wisdom, the reform process began in 2025 following the inauguration of a committee to review and reposition the NYSC scheme.