FG to Replace NYSC Khaki with Adire in Major Scheme Overhaul

_By Toffa Momoh | Abuja

The Federal Government has confirmed it will phase out the National Youth Service Corps’ iconic khaki uniform and replace it with locally made Adire fabric, as part of a broader reform package to reposition the 53-year-old scheme.

Adire to Drive Local Economy
Speaking on national television on Thursday, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, said the switch was deliberate and economic.

“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 move aligns with the administration’s push to boost local manufacturing, create value chains in Ogun, Kwara and other textile hubs, and reduce government reliance on imported materials for NYSC kits.

Course-Based Posting to Begin
Beyond uniforms, Olawande outlined changes to how corps members will be deployed after camp. Under the new framework, graduates will be posted in line with their academic backgrounds instead of random assignments.

“After you are leaving the camp, you are not just posted to a school just because NYSC wants you to be in school but because of the process you followed when in camp. So, that is going to give a framework of where you are going to be posted to,” he explained.

Example: Education graduates will be prioritized for teaching roles in schools, rather than being sent to unrelated sectors.

Security-Conscious, Region-Based Deployment
On safety, the minister said the government is considering posting prospective corps members to regions where they studied and are already familiar with the terrain, especially in areas with security concerns.

“If you have interest that you want to go to the North-East why not, but if you don’t have interest, instead of redeploying you, paying people for camp, doing all those funny things, we said no, let us look at it and say who are those in that area, that can reside in those geographical areas and still give us the kind of number we are looking for since we are saying NYSC should be more impactful,” he stated.

Olawande said the approach would ease anxiety for parents and reduce the cost and logistics of redeployments.

Military Not Being Removed
The minister also clarified reports that the military would be scrapped from NYSC operations. He described the claims as a “misconception,” stressing that the armed forces will retain a security role.

FEC Approves First Major Reform Since 1973
The changes follow Monday’s Federal Executive Council approval of a comprehensive overhaul of the NYSC — the first major reform since the scheme was created in 1973.

The FEC has directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Ministry of Youth Development to amend the NYSC Act and its regulations to give legal backing to the reforms.

Under the new structure:

1. Leadership: The scheme’s operational leadership will be headed by a civilian.
2. Security: The military will continue to provide security support for corps members across the country.

The government says the full package — Adire uniforms, skills-based posting, and regional deployment — is designed to make NYSC more relevant to Nigeria’s current economic and security realities.