Federal Government extends NYSC orientation camp to six weeks, scraps military drills and passing out parade

The Federal Government has approved sweeping reforms to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), extending the orientation camp programme from three weeks to six weeks as part of efforts to reposition the scheme.

The reforms also abolish military drills and parade activities during the orientation exercise. In addition, the traditional Passing Out Parade held at the end of the one-year national service will be replaced with a graduation ceremony.

According to the government, the changes are aimed at making the NYSC more skills-driven, with greater emphasis on preparing corps members for employment, entrepreneurship and self-reliance after service.

As part of the overhaul, the Federal Government also approved the introduction of a redesigned NYSC uniform intended to project professionalism and give the scheme a refreshed identity. The uniform is expected to complement the broader restructuring of the programme.

Officials said the reforms form part of a wider strategy to modernise the NYSC and align it with Nigeria’s economic priorities and youth development goals. The initiative is expected to equip corps members with practical skills that will improve their prospects beyond the service year.

The announcement has sparked discussions among prospective and serving corps members, with many expressing mixed reactions to the extension of the orientation camp from three to six weeks. Others welcomed the increased focus on skills acquisition and entrepreneurship.

The latest reforms represent one of the most significant changes to the NYSC scheme in recent years, as the Federal Government seeks to reshape the programme to better meet the country’s evolving workforce and development needs.