After months of delays, the Federal Government has finally started paying the revised N77,000 monthly allowance to National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members.
Several corps members confirmed receiving credit alerts reflecting the increased stipend on Wednesday, marking the end of a prolonged wait that had led to frustration and protests.
The payment comes days after Minister of Youth Development Ayodele Olawande assured Nigerians that payments would be made by the end of March. However, while the new stipend has been disbursed, arrears owed to corps members remain unsettled.
The increase in corps members’ allowances was first announced in September 2023, raising the monthly stipend from N33,000 to N77,000 to align with the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024. Despite the approval, implementation stalled due to financial constraints and administrative processes.
Olawande defended the government’s slow response, stating that while President Bola Tinubu had approved the raise months ago, the required budgetary allocations were not in place at the time. The Minister clarified that the necessary budgetary adjustments had been completed, allowing the government to proceed with payments.
The Director General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, also gave assurances last week that corps members would begin receiving payments this month.
While the disbursement of the N77,000 allowance marks a significant milestone, corps members continue to anticipate the resolution of pending arrears, hoping that the government follows through on its promises without further delays.
