The federal government said on Wednesday that the deployment of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members would henceforth be guided by security risk assessments, marking a shift in the administration of the scheme as part of a broader reform package.

President Bola Tinubu announced the policy in a statement issued after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved seven reforms aimed at strengthening the 53-year-old scheme.

Under the new policy, corps members will no longer be posted to states facing heightened security risks without consideration of prevailing conditions. Instead, the government said deployments to such areas would be determined through risk assessments.

“Deployment to security-challenged states will be guided by risk assessment. It will prioritise indigenes, residents, graduates of institutions in those states and those from neighbouring states within the same geopolitical zones,” Tinubu said.

The announcement comes amid longstanding concerns over the safety of corps members posted to parts of the country affected by armed attacks, kidnappings and other security threats.

The president said the changes formed part of what he described as the most significant overhaul of the NYSC since it was established in 1973.

According to him, the reforms are intended to make the scheme safer while retaining its role in promoting national unity.

Tinubu also directed the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and the Ministry of Justice to begin the process of amending the NYSC Act and related regulations to provide legal backing for the reforms.

The government said the restructuring would also see the NYSC headed by a civilian director-general, replacing the current military leadership model. The director-general would be supported by three executive directors, including one from the military or a paramilitary agency responsible for security.

Other reforms approved by the FEC include extending the orientation camp programme to six weeks, introducing 11 specialised service streams for corps members and assessing orientation camps under a national grading and certification framework.

The government also plans to replace the traditional Passing-Out Parade with a Graduation Ceremony, saying the change reflects a greater emphasis on skills development, employability and enterprise.

The NYSC was established in 1973 to promote national integration by deploying graduates to states outside their regions of origin. In recent years, however, insecurity has fuelled calls for reforms to the deployment system, particularly in areas affected by violence.

The approved measures will require amendments to the NYSC Act before key aspects of the reforms can be implemented.