The Tinubu government has failed to deliver on the promised N77,000 monthly allowance for NYSC members, despite assurances from the NYSC. Corps members received the unchanged N33,000 stipend for February 2025, highlighting the government's failure to meet commitments amidst rising inflation and economic challenges in Nigeria.
Despite assurances from the Nigerian government and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the newly promised N77,000 monthly allowance for corps members has yet to be implemented. NYSC members across the country were left disappointed when they received their February stipend on Friday, only to find that the amount remained unchanged at N33,000, which is less than half of the promised increase.
The government had publicly committed to the increment, with NYSC Director-General Brigadier General Yushau Ahmed confirming in January that the allowance would be increased once the 2025 budget was passed. "The Federal Government has already approved the increment of your allowance. What we are waiting for is just the passage of the budget," Ahmed had stated during a visit to corps members in Katsina State, assuring them that the new amount would be reflected in February payments.
However, as the month ended, no such payment adjustment had been made, and no official explanation was provided by the government for the failure to implement the increase.
This unfulfilled promise has left many corps members frustrated, especially in the face of Nigeria's worsening economic crisis. With inflation soaring and the cost of living becoming unbearable, the N33,000 allowance no longer meets even basic needs, including food, transportation, and accommodation. Corps members are struggling to make ends meet, and the government's failure to honor its commitment only adds to their hardship.
One corps member serving in Oyo expressed his disillusionment, saying, “How do they expect us to survive on N33,000 when everything is expensive? They told us we would get N77,000 this month, and now they have failed again.” Another corps member from Kano noted that the delay was another example of the government’s disregard for the suffering of young Nigerians, pointing out that "the government knows N33,000 is not enough, but they don’t care."
The continued failure to meet the expectations of the nation's youth has further eroded trust in the Tinubu administration, which is already under fire for its economic policies that have contributed to rising inflation, unemployment, and poverty.
