The Federal Government of Nigeria has assured members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) that they will receive the backlog of their newly approved ₦77,000 monthly allowance, despite previous delays. This commitment was reiterated by the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, during a national television interview.
In September 2024, the government announced an increase in corps members’ monthly stipends from ₦33,000 to ₦77,000, aligning with the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024. However, six months later, the implementation of this increment had yet to commence, leading to concerns among corps members.
Addressing these concerns, Minister Olawande acknowledged the delays and attributed them to administrative and budgetary processes. He explained that the allowance increment was not initially included in the budget when announced, necessitating additional steps to secure the necessary approvals. Olawande assured that these processes have now been completed, stating, “The budgetary allocation has been done. We are done with the process, it has been approved, it has been signed, and now they can start paying it.”
Furthermore, the minister emphasized the government’s commitment to addressing the backlog of unpaid allowances, acknowledging that while the payment may not be immediate, efforts are underway to ensure corps members receive their due arrears.
