Economy
Tinubu Government Sets For Digital, Fiscal Reforms Of NYSC
Tinubu Government Sets For Digital, Fiscal Reforms Of NYSC
Tinubu Government sets for digital, fiscal reforms of NYSC. She added that the current NYSC framework was outdated, overstretched and misaligned with national priorities.
The federal government says the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) must be transformed into a modern, digitally driven and fiscally sustainable national institution capable of meeting Nigeria’s current and future manpower needs.
Hadiza Usman, special adviser to the president on policy and coordination and head of the central results delivery coordination unit, stated this on Monday in Abuja at the NYSC Reform Stakeholders’ Consultative Engagement Forum.
The forum was organised by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination to validate recommendations of the NYSC reform committee.
Ms Usman said that although the scheme had, for more than five decades, symbolised national unity and civic responsibility, it could no longer operate under structures designed for the 1990s.
“For over five decades, the NYSC has symbolised unity, civic responsibility and national integration. Yet, as with all human institutions, relevance requires reinvention,” she said.
She added that the current NYSC framework was outdated, overstretched and misaligned with national priorities.
“These realities have made clear that the current structure – centralised, analogue, financially overstretched, and misaligned with national manpower needs – cannot carry the scheme into the future,” she said.
Ms Usman said diagnostic reviews conducted by the committee revealed legal, operational, digital and fiscal gaps requiring immediate action.
She said the findings showed that centralisation had slowed service delivery, the funding model relied too heavily on the federal government, and skill development programmes were misaligned with labour-market needs.
In response to these gaps, she said the committee proposed far-reaching reforms, including amendment of the NYSC Act to provide for digital service, gender-responsive deployment, co-funding by states and local governments, and explicit employer obligations.
Others include a three-tier governance structure for improved accountability, a unified digital command and service platform, zonal innovation hubs under a redesigned skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development model, and the creation of a N2 billion NYSC Innovation Fund.
“The reform proposal envisions a phased implementation between 2026 and 2028, beginning with legislative amendments and digital pilots in 2026, and culminating in a nationwide sector-aligned deployment model by 2028,” she said.
She noted that the success of the reforms depended on broad stakeholder ownership.
Earlier, the minister of youth, Ayodele Olawande, said the reforms were necessary to ensure that corps members were better prepared for employment and self-reliance, adding that the scheme must produce graduates capable of contributing meaningfully to the economy.
“Let us make NYSC productive so that after one year, corps members will not just come out looking for government jobs but can become employers of labour,” he said.
He added that with the number of corps members expected to rise from 400,000 to 600,000 annually, Nigeria must ensure that the scheme remained relevant and aligned with economic realities.
The director-general of the NYSC, Brig.-Gen. Olakinle Nafiu, said the scheme had undergone several internal and external reforms over the decades and must continue to evolve.
“As a matter of fact, in 1973, the first set of corps members mobilised were 2,364. Today, we mobilise 400,000 annually, and we expect 650,000 locally trained graduates to present for service next year,” he said.
Tinubu Government Sets For Digital, Fiscal Reforms Of NYSC
He added that the NYSC remained a model in Africa and must keep improving to retain that status.
The director-general of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, said the reforms must enable the country to harness its human capital to drive national growth and global competitiveness.
He noted that Nigeria’s rapidly expanding population provided both an opportunity and a challenge that the NYSC must help to address.
“In Nigeria, we can conveniently train our youth and help them to reach the global talent gap. Imagine we have two million Nigerians working remotely; this can earn the country nothing less than 100 billion dollars annually. We can achieve a one trillion-dollar economy if we harness our human capital,” he said.
A youth participant, Fatima Lamisula, representing Borno North at the Nigerian Youth Parliament, said the reforms were timely and aligned with the needs of young graduates who face a rapidly changing labour market.
“These policies are outdated and youth have to bring in their ideas and innovations. Life after NYSC is something we have to think of even before finishing the programme, so the reforms should align with the future of corps members,” she said.
Recommendations from the forum will be forwarded to the federal executive council and subsequently to the National Assembly for legislative action.
Persistent Grid Collapse, Weak Power Supply Worsening Economic Hardship: Oyintiloye
Speaking with journalists on Sunday in Osogbo, Oyintiloye said the situation had continued to deteriorate despite assurances and reforms introduced by authorities.
He described unreliable electricity as a major setback to the federal government’s reforms in the power sector.
He appealed to President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene, noting that poor power supply is worsening economic hardship across the country.
Oyintiloye said the poor supply has compounded the effects of the current heatwave, making living conditions more difficult for many Nigerians.
The former lawmaker called for the constitution of a panel to investigate recurring national grid collapses and persistent supply challenges despite significant investments.
“It is a terrible situation across Nigeria with persistent poor power supply,” he said.
“Many small-scale businesses and large industrial players are affected, while most homes cannot boast of even three hours of electricity supply daily for domestic use.
“Despite numerous reforms and promises, the national grid continues to collapse. The situation is now compounded by gas supply shortages, weak transmission infrastructure, and chronic underinvestment across the power value chain.
“Nigerians are groaning, and urgent action must be taken by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and his team. The situation cannot continue like this.”
Oyintiloye warned that the situation has already triggered protests in parts of the country and could escalate if not addressed promptly.
“The situation must be quickly addressed before it becomes a national embarrassment. Nigerians need to be informed whether the issue is due to structural failure or sabotage within the power sector,” he said.
Electricity
“This epileptic power supply has led to a series of peaceful protests nationwide. I appeal for the President’s intervention before these protests turn violent.
“Electricity is essential for households and the survival of businesses. Since the end of last year, there has been no stable power supply across the country, despite assurances by those in charge and huge investments in the sector.
“Poor power supply should not be added to the challenges Nigerians are currently facing. The high cost of fuel has also made it difficult for those relying on generators to cope.”
Eid-el-Fitr: NRC Sets To Run Three Lagos–Ibadan Train Trips Monday
Eid-el-Fitr: NRC sets to run three Lagos–Ibadan train trips Monday. He assured passengers of NRC’s continued commitment to safe, reliable, and efficient rail services.
This was contained in a statement issued on Friday in Lagos by NRC chief public relations officer, Callistus Unyimadu.
He said the additional trip was in response to high passenger turnout during the Eid-el-Fitr travel period.
“The extra trip is aimed at easing passenger movement and providing more travel options for commuters returning after the Eid-el-Fitr celebrations.
“Under the schedule, departures from Lagos (Mobolaji Johnson Station, Ebute Metta) will be at 7.45 a.m., 1.40 p.m., and 4.00 p.m.
“From Ibadan (Obafemi Awolowo Station, Moniya), trains will depart at 8.00 a.m., 10.50 a.m., and 4.30 p.m.,” he said.
Mr Unyimadu assured passengers of NRC’s continued commitment to safe, reliable, and efficient rail services.
NRC Sets To Run Three Lagos–Ibadan Train Trips Monday
He advised travellers to arrive early, comply with ticketing and security procedures, and plan their journeys.
“The corporation appreciates the continued patronage of its services and wishes all passengers a safe and pleasant journey,” he added.
UBA, BII Sign Letter Of Intent To Explore Trade Finance Collaboration Across Africa
United Bank for Africa (UK) Limited (“UBA UK”) and British International Investment plc (“BII”), the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor, announced that they have signed a letter of intent to develop trade finance collaboration opportunities.
The proposed initiative aims to expand access to trade and working capital facilities for businesses operating across Africa.
Access to trade finance remains one of the most significant structural constraints on African trade. Businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, are frequently unable to secure letters of credit, guarantees, and supply chain finance on commercially viable terms, limiting their capacity to export and import competitively. This trade finance gap is estimated by the African Development Bank to be over USD 80 billion annually.
To help close this gap, UBA UK, the London subsidiary of UBA Group, Africa’s Global Bank, will leverage its deep relationships across the Group’s 20-country African network to originate and structure trade finance transactions. While BII, with a mandate to support productive, sustainable, and inclusive growth across Africa, can support transactions that might otherwise fall outside conventional commercial appetite.
“The signing of this letter with BII represents a landmark moment for UBA UK and for the UBA Group’s global ambitions. As the Group’s hub for Trade Operations, UBA UK is uniquely positioned to connect African businesses with the international financial system. Working alongside BII, we can extend that capability further — mobilising capital where it matters most and helping to close the trade finance gap that holds back so much African potential,” said Lok Mishra, Chief Executive Officer, UBA UK
“British International Investment is committed to catalysing private sector growth across Africa, and trade finance is a critical enabler of that growth. We welcome the opportunity to collaborate with UBA Group, whose pan-African network and deep institutional relationships can help advance our ambition to expand access to trade and working capital finance, particularly in frontier markets,” Chris Chijiuitomi, Managing Director and Head of Africa
The announcement builds on growing momentum around intra-African trade facilitated by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which entered into force in 2021 and represents one of the world’s most significant trade integration initiatives. Both institutions have identified the operationalisation of AfCFTA as a priority catalyst for a trade finance facility, with UBA UK’s network across major AfCFTA economies offering a basis for supporting businesses navigating the emerging continental market.
This also complements the UK Government’s broader engagement with African economic development, including commitments made at the UK-Africa Investment Summit, and reinforces the City of London’s role as a leading international finance centre for Africa-focused capital mobilisation.
Future cooperation remains subject to further assessment, due diligence and the completion of internal approvals by both parties.
ABOUT UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA (UK) LIMITED
UBA UK is the London-based subsidiary of United Bank for Africa Plc, one of Africa’s leading financial institutions with operations across 20 African countries, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France, and the United Arab Emirates. UBA UK serves as the Group’s hub for Trade Operations, providing a comprehensive suite of trade finance, treasury, and correspondent banking services to institutional and corporate clients worldwide.
UBA
ABOUT UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA GROUP
United Bank for Africa is one of the largest employers in the financial sector on the African continent, with 25,000 employees group-wide and serving over 45 million customers globally. Operating in twenty African countries, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France and the United Arab Emirates, UBA provides retail, commercial and institutional banking services, leading financial inclusion and implementing cutting-edge technology.
ABOUT BRITISH INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT
British International Investment is the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor. The organisation invests in businesses in developing countries to improve people’s lives and help protect the planet. BII’s work targets the underlying causes of poverty and the climate crisis, helping countries break free from aid dependency for good.
Between 2022-2026, at least 30 per cent of BII’s total new commitments by value will be in climate finance. BII is also a founding member of the 2X Challenge which has raised over $33.6 billion to empower women’s economic development.
The company has investments in over 1,600 businesses across 66 countries and total net assets of £9.87 billion. For more information, visit: www.bii.co.uk | watch here. Follow British International Investment on LinkedIn, Bluesky and X.
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