A youth advocacy organisation has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to suspend key aspects of the proposed reforms to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), warning that altering the scheme’s longstanding structure could weaken one of Nigeria’s most enduring institutions for national unity, discipline and civic service.

The appeal was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the Coalition for National Unity and Youth Development and jointly signed by its President, Abdulrahman Sani, and Secretary, Grace Nwafor.

While acknowledging the Federal Government’s commitment to modernising the NYSC, the coalition argued that reforms should strengthen, rather than fundamentally redefine, an institution that has served Nigeria for more than five decades.

The group called on President Tinubu to constitute a broader stakeholder committee comprising former NYSC Directors-General, security experts, university administrators, employers, labour unions, youth organisations and civil society groups to conduct a comprehensive review of the proposed reforms before any legislation is transmitted to the National Assembly.

“We respectfully appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to allow a historic national institution to be fundamentally altered without exhaustive consultation,” the statement said. “Mr President has consistently demonstrated that he listens to Nigerians, and we sincerely urge him to pause this process and allow broader stakeholder engagement before any irreversible decision is taken.”

According to the coalition, the NYSC was established primarily to promote national integration and reconciliation following the Nigerian Civil War, and its core mission should not be overshadowed by vocational training objectives.

“It would be unfortunate if the NYSC gradually loses its identity and becomes known merely as another government skills acquisition programme,” the group stated. “Skills development is important, but it is not the reason the scheme was created. Its greatest achievement has been bringing young Nigerians together across ethnic, religious and regional divides at a time when the country needed healing.”

The coalition also urged the Federal Government to retain the existing leadership and orientation framework of the scheme, arguing that its structured, quasi-military orientation remains central to instilling discipline, patriotism, teamwork and resilience among corps members.

Drawing international comparisons, the group noted that countries such as Singapore, South Korea, Israel and Switzerland continue to maintain structured national or military service programmes because they recognise the importance of civic responsibility and discipline in national development.

“Nigeria should strengthen that tradition rather than weaken it,” the statement added.

Highlighting the strategic importance of the NYSC, the coalition recalled the critical roles played by corps members during national emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic, elections, disease outbreaks and humanitarian interventions.

“When COVID-19 placed enormous pressure on Nigeria’s healthcare system, it was not only permanent government workers who responded. Hundreds of NYSC doctors, nurses, pharmacists and laboratory scientists served on the frontlines in isolation centres and public hospitals across the country,” the group said. “These experiences demonstrate that the NYSC is far more than a youth programme; it is a national emergency asset.”

The coalition also challenged suggestions that digitalisation forms a major component of the proposed reforms, arguing that many of the scheme’s administrative processes have already been modernised.

“Mobilisation, deployment, documentation and records management have been substantially digitised for years,” it said. “The real challenge facing the NYSC is not technology but funding. With improved funding, better welfare, upgraded facilities and stronger operational support, the scheme can deliver even greater value to Nigeria.”

The group expressed concern that public debate surrounding the proposed reforms had become dominated by discussions about uniforms rather than substantive policy issues, describing this as evidence that wider consultation was needed.

“It is telling that what was introduced as a comprehensive reform quickly became a national conversation about Adire and uniforms,” the statement noted. “That alone demonstrates the need for deeper engagement before legislative action begins.”

The coalition further appealed to the National Assembly to ensure that any proposed amendments to the NYSC Act are subjected to extensive public hearings involving former administrators, employers, educational institutions, youth groups and other stakeholders.

According to the group, reforms affecting future generations of Nigerian graduates should emerge from broad national consensus while preserving the values of discipline, patriotism and national unity that have defined the NYSC since its establishment.