The Federal Government has confirmed that National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members will soon replace the scheme's traditional khaki uniform with Adire fabric as part of a broad reform package approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, announced the change during an appearance on *Channels Television's* *The Morning Brief* on Thursday.
According to the minister, the adoption of Adire is intended to support local textile production and ensure government spending benefits Nigerian manufacturers.
"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 minister also disclosed that corps members will increasingly be deployed based on their academic qualifications and professional training under the new framework.
He explained that graduates with education-related qualifications, for example, would be posted to schools instead of being assigned through the current system, where deployments are not always linked to an individual's field of study.
Olawande said the reforms would introduce a structured posting process that aligns corps members' skills with their places of primary assignment.
The government is also reviewing its deployment policy to address security concerns. Under the proposal, graduates may be posted to regions where they studied or are familiar with the environment, particularly in areas affected by insecurity.
According to the minister, the approach is expected to reduce concerns among parents and prospective corps members while making deployments more practical.
He added that graduates would still have the option to serve in other parts of the country if they choose.
Olawande also dismissed reports that the military would be removed from the NYSC, describing the claims as a misunderstanding.
He clarified that while the scheme's operational leadership will be headed by a civilian, the military will continue to provide security support for corps members nationwide.
"We are not taking the military out of NYSC," he said. "It is just saying that we are moving away from military mobilisation to civilian mobilisation."
The reforms follow FEC's approval of a comprehensive overhaul of the NYSC, marking the first major review of the scheme since it was established 53 years ago.
As part of the decision, the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Ministry of Youth Development have been directed to amend the NYSC Act and relevant regulations to implement the approved changes.
The Federal Government said the reforms are designed to reposition the NYSC as a skills-focused and productivity-driven institution that supports youth empowerment and contributes to its goal of building a $1 trillion economy.
