“No Fabric Has Been Approved,” Youth Minister Says Of NYSC Uniform
The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, has moved to douse the storm over the National Youth Service Corps uniform, insisting that the Federal Government has not approved Adire fabric to replace the corps’ iconic khaki, and that his earlier comments were misread.
His clarification came only hours after an appearance on Channels Television’s “The Morning Brief” on Thursday, where he was widely quoted as confirming the khaki would give way to locally produced Adire. Responding to a question on whether new uniforms would be made in Nigeria, the minister had said, “It’s Adire. Adire is being produced in Nigeria. We have them in Ogun; we have them in Kwara; we have textile industries. Let’s put our money back into the country.” Those remarks were carried by several outlets as a firm policy announcement.
In a statement on his official social media account, Olawande said the reference was illustrative rather than conclusive. “For the avoidance of doubt, yes, I mentioned Adire during the discussion. I also mentioned Ankara. My intention was simply to cite examples of some of the proposals that have been put forward in the course of our consultations. It was not an announcement that any particular fabric has been adopted or approved to replace the current NYSC uniform,” he said.
He explained that the government was weighing several options against professional appearance, durability, functionality, cost-effectiveness, national identity and the promotion of local industry. “No final decision has been taken on the fabric or design,” the minister added.
The uniform question sits within a far broader shake-up. On Monday, the Federal Executive Council approved seven key reforms described as the first major overhaul of the NYSC since it was created by decree in 1973 to rebuild national unity after the civil war. The council directed the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, and the Ministry of Youth Development to amend the NYSC Act and its regulations to give effect to the changes.
Under the approved framework, the scheme’s day-to-day running shifts from military to civilian operational leadership, though the military retains responsibility for the security of corps members. Other measures include a fully digital call-up system, deployment guided by security risk assessment, an orientation camp extended to six weeks, eleven specialised service streams tied to corps members’ academic backgrounds, a national grading and certification system for camps, and the replacement of the passing-out parade with a graduation ceremony. A redesigned uniform “that reflects professionalism and national pride” was listed among the reforms, which explains why the fabric question drew such quick public attention.
President Bola Tinubu, in a statement on Wednesday, said deployment to security-challenged states would now be guided by risk assessment and would prioritise indigenes, residents and graduates of institutions in those states. The Special Adviser on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala-Usman, said the wider goal was to reposition the corps as a civilian-led, skills-oriented institution aligned with the administration’s target of a one-trillion-dollar economy.
Olawande urged Nigerians not to let the fabric debate crowd out those larger objectives. “While conversations around the uniform are understandable, they should not overshadow the far-reaching reforms aimed at empowering millions of Nigerian youths,” he said.