The Federal Government has clarified that no final decision has been taken to replace the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) khaki uniform with Adire, following widespread public reactions to comments made earlier by the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande.
In a statement posted on his official X account on Thursday, Olawande explained that media reports portraying Adire as the approved replacement for the NYSC uniform had misinterpreted his comments during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.
According to the minister, his reference to Adire and Ankara was merely intended to illustrate some of the ideas currently under consideration as part of the ongoing review of the scheme, stressing that “No final decision has been taken on the fabric or design.”
“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 stated.
Olawande said government is carefully evaluating various options before arriving at a final choice, noting that any new uniform must satisfy several important considerations.
According to him, the government is considering options that “tick all the right boxes in terms of professional outlook, a unique national identity, durability, functionality, cost-effectiveness, and the projection of national pride.”
He added that the eventual decision would emerge from extensive consultations with stakeholders and would prioritise what best advances the interests of both the NYSC and the nation.
The minister further appealed to Nigerians not to allow discussions about the proposed uniform to distract attention from the broader transformation agenda for the youth service programme.
“The reforms are designed to make the Scheme more relevant to today’s realities by improving employability, promoting entrepreneurship, strengthening national integration, enhancing service delivery, and creating a smoother transition from education to productive careers.
“While conversations around the uniform are understandable, they should not overshadow the far-reaching reforms aimed at empowering millions of Nigerian youths and positioning the NYSC as a stronger platform for national development,” he said.
Earlier on Thursday, Olawande had indicated during his television interview that the Federal Government intended to replace the traditional NYSC khaki with locally produced Adire as part of the sweeping reforms approved for the 53-year-old scheme.
During that interview, he had said, “It’s Adire,” explaining that the proposal was aimed at encouraging local textile production while ensuring government spending supports Nigerian manufacturers.
The proposed uniform review is one of several reforms approved by the Federal Executive Council earlier this week. Other planned changes include deploying corps members based on their professional qualifications, placing the scheme under civilian operational leadership, and amending the NYSC Act to accommodate the new framework.
(Ripples)