The Federal Government has clarified that no decision has been made to replace the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) khaki uniform with locally made Adire fabric, following widespread reports triggered by comments from the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande.
Earlier, Olawande said the government was considering replacing the current khaki uniform with Nigerian-made Adire as part of efforts to promote local products and revive the country’s textile industry.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, the minister said Adire and other locally produced textiles could help keep government spending within the country while supporting local manufacturers.
His comments came shortly after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved seven major reforms to the one-year NYSC scheme, including digitalisation, a shift in leadership from military to civilian management, and a redesigned uniform.
However, in a statement posted on his X account on Thursday, Olawande clarified that his reference to Adire was only an example of proposals under consideration and not an official government decision.
“My attention has been drawn to some media reports following my brief appearance earlier this morning on Channels TV regarding the ongoing reforms of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), particularly on the issue of the proposed uniform,” he said.
“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.”
The minister stressed that the government is still evaluating various options based on factors such as durability, functionality, cost-effectiveness, professional appearance, national identity and pride.
He added that no final decision has been taken on either the fabric or the design, noting that any changes would follow extensive consultations with relevant stakeholders.
Olawande also urged Nigerians to focus on the broader NYSC reform agenda rather than the debate over uniforms. According to him, the reforms are designed to improve youth employability, encourage entrepreneurship, strengthen national integration, enhance service delivery and ease the transition from education into productive careers.
He assured Nigerians that every proposal would be carefully assessed before any final decision is reached.
