Minister Clarifies Adire Proposal, Says NYSC Uniform Yet To Be Changed
Government Clarifies Position on Proposed NYSC Uniform
THE Federal Government has clarified that no final decision has been taken to replace the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) khaki uniform with adire fabric, following widespread public reactions to comments made by the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande.
The clarification came after reports suggested that the government had approved adire as the new official uniform for corps members as part of ongoing reforms of the NYSC scheme.
In a statement posted on his official X account on Thursday, the minister explained that his earlier remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief had been misinterpreted.
According to him, adire and ankara were mentioned merely as examples of proposals currently under consideration and not as government-approved replacements for the iconic khaki uniform.
Comments Were Illustrative, Not an Official Announcement
Olawande said his intention during the television interview was to illustrate the range of ideas emerging from consultations on reforming the over five-decade-old national service scheme.
He stressed that no fabric, design or uniform model had received formal government approval.
“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,” the minister explained.
He added that any eventual decision would be based on careful evaluation of several factors, including professional appearance, durability, functionality, affordability, national identity and the promotion of Nigerian-made products.
Stakeholder Consultations Continue
The minister noted that the review process remains consultative and that relevant stakeholders will continue to participate before any final decision is reached.
He explained that the government intends to adopt options that best serve the interests of corps members, the NYSC institution and the country at large.
According to him, the reform process extends beyond uniform considerations and seeks to reposition the scheme to better address contemporary national needs.
Broader Reform Agenda Remains the Priority
Olawande urged Nigerians not to allow the public debate surrounding the proposed uniform to overshadow the wider reform programme recently approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
He said the reforms are designed to improve the relevance of the NYSC by enhancing graduate employability, promoting entrepreneurship, strengthening national integration, improving service delivery and facilitating smoother transitions from school into productive careers.
Earlier reports had indicated that locally produced adire could replace the traditional khaki uniform as part of efforts to promote indigenous textile manufacturing and retain government spending within Nigeria.
The proposed uniform adjustment was reported as one component of a broader restructuring package that also includes skills-based deployment of corps members, civilian operational leadership for the scheme and proposed amendments to the NYSC Act.
For now, however, the government maintains that discussions remain ongoing and that no official approval has been granted for any change to the NYSC uniform.
