The Federal Government of Nigeria has paid National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members N33,000 for October, despite announcing an increase to N77,000. Corps members express frustration over the inadequate allowance, citing rising living costs and the delay in implementing the new stipend due to unallocated funds.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has once again disbursed the monthly allowance of N33,000 to National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members for October, despite a prior announcement to increase the stipend to N77,000. This increase was officially communicated on September 25, 2024, and was intended to align with the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024, marking a significant enhancement in the welfare benefits for corps members.
However, corps members reported receiving the old allowance of N33,000, leading to frustration among them. Many have taken to social media to voice their dissatisfaction, arguing that the N33,000 is inadequate to cover essential transportation costs, let alone their other daily expenses. A corps member tweeted, expressing concerns about the rising cost of living and the insufficient allowance, stating, “How on earth are they expecting us to survive in this hard country?”
The Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier General Yushau Ahmed, confirmed that the implementation of the new allowance has yet to occur due to a lack of released funds from the government. He also noted that staff salaries at NYSC have remained unchanged despite revisions proposed four to five months ago. The ongoing delays have sparked discontent among corps members, as they await the promised increase to better support their livelihoods during their service period.
