FG To Replace NYSC Khaki Uniform With Adire

The Federal Government has announced that the traditional khaki uniform worn by members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) will be replaced with Adire fabric as part of the ongoing reforms of the 53-year-old scheme.

Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, confirmed the development during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, saying the move is aimed at promoting local textile production and boosting Nigeria’s economy.

“It’s Adire. So, Adire is being produced in Nigeria. We have them in Ogun, we have them in Kwara, we have textile industry. Let’s put our money back into the country,” the minister said.

Beyond the uniform change, Olawande said corps members would increasingly be deployed based on their academic qualifications and professional backgrounds under the new NYSC framework. He explained that graduates with education-related qualifications, for instance, would be posted to schools instead of being assigned arbitrarily.

The minister also disclosed that the government is considering deploying corps members to regions where they studied or are familiar with, particularly in areas facing security challenges, to improve safety and reduce redeployment requests.

Addressing reports that the military would be removed from the NYSC, Olawande dismissed the claims, stressing that while the scheme’s operational leadership would become civilian-led, the military would continue to provide security support.

The Adire uniform forms part of the sweeping NYSC reforms recently approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), alongside a six-week orientation programme, technology-driven mobilisation, skills-based deployment and other measures aimed at making the scheme more relevant and impactful.