By Gloria Ikibah
A coalition of civil society organisations and youth groups has announced plans to convene a national dialogue on proposed reforms to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), seeking to ensure that the review process reflects the views of Nigerians before the Federal Government takes a final position.
The initiative, being organised by the Centre for Equity, Justice and Transparency in partnership with the Save Nigeria Movement, is expected to bring together policymakers, academics, former corps members, youth organisations, security agencies and other stakeholders to examine the future of the scheme and recommend practical reforms. 
Convened by legal practitioners Sorkaa Tsembelee and Patrick Agbese, the one-day dialogue aims to generate a comprehensive working document that will be presented to the Federal Government as part of ongoing efforts to review the NYSC Act.
In a statement issued on Friday, the organisers said the forum was intended to provide an inclusive platform where stakeholders could contribute meaningfully to the reform process.
The statementread: “The essence of this dialogue is for critical stakeholders to make input into the proposed NYSC reforms before the President’s administration takes final decisions.
“We will have senior academics, former corps members, youth groups and other members of society to dissect the proposed reforms thoroughly.
“It will thereafter catalyse into a working document for the Federal Government. We will invite the CDS, the Army and others. Let everyone look at it and say their own.”
Established in 1973 after the Nigerian Civil War, the NYSC was designed to promote national unity, encourage integration among young graduates and foster national development through compulsory service outside their states of origin. Over the decades, corps members have played significant roles in education, healthcare, agriculture and community development, particularly in underserved communities.
However, growing concerns over the safety and welfare of corps members, inadequate funding, deployment policies and questions surrounding the relevance of some aspects of the programme have fuelled calls for a comprehensive review.
The organisers said the dialogue will assess whether the scheme still aligns with its founding objectives while identifying legislative and policy changes needed to address present-day realities.
They maintained that while reforms were necessary, the NYSC’s central mission of promoting national cohesion should be preserved alongside efforts to strengthen skills development, entrepreneurship and youth empowerment.
“This is not about tearing down an institution that has served Nigeria well; it is about refining it with the collective wisdom of those who have lived the experience and those who study its impact.
“Former corps members carry practical insights that policymakers often miss, and we want those voices at the table.
“Youth groups and civil society must not be spectators while decisions that will shape the next generation of Nigerian graduates are taken. The dialogue creates the space for genuine, structured input”, it added,.
According to the organisers, discussions will focus on critical issues including corps members’ welfare, security, orientation camp facilities, deployment procedures, funding mechanisms and the effectiveness of the Community Development Service (CDS) programme.
They added that academics will provide comparative analyses of national service models in other countries, while security agencies would offer institutional perspectives on improving the protection of corps members, particularly those posted to areas affected by insecurity.
“We cannot discuss NYSC reforms without hearing from those who secure the environment in which corps members serve. The CDS and the Army have institutional knowledge that is indispensable.
“Their perspectives on logistics, security and inter-agency coordination will enrich the final document.
“Senior academicians will help us situate the proposed reforms within the broader context of nation-building. We need evidence-based contributions, not just opinions”, the said.
The organisers said the ultimate goal was to produce practical recommendations capable of informing both legislative and executive action.
They explained that the final report would reflect contributions from former corps members, scholars, security agencies, youth organisations and civil society groups, providing government with workable proposals for strengthening the scheme without compromising its original mandate.
“The working document that emerges from this dialogue must be something the government can work with.
“It should reflect the views of those who have served, those who teach, those who protect, and those who advocate.
“Anything less would be a missed opportunity. We are calling on all stakeholders to come prepared to engage constructively.
“The future of the NYSC is too important to be decided in isolation. This national dialogue is our contribution to an open, inclusive process”, the statement further read.
