The Federal Government has approved an increase in the monthly allowance for members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to N77,000, effective from July 2024. This decision comes as part of the implementation of the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024, which sets a new minimum wage of N70,000.
The announcement was made on Wednesday in a statement issued by the NYSC’s Acting Director of Information and Public Relations, Caroline Embu. According to Embu, the approval for the increase was communicated in a letter from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission. The letter, dated September 25, 2024, was signed by the Commission’s Chairman, Mr. Ekpo Nta.
Before this recent increment, corps members were receiving a monthly allowance of N33,000, a figure that was adjusted following the 2019 review of the minimum wage to N30,000. The significant increase to N77,000 has been welcomed as a much-needed boost for the young graduates participating in the mandatory one-year national service.
This change follows President Bola Tinubu’s signing of the new Minimum Wage Bill into law on July 29, 2024. The law raised the minimum wage to N70,000, prompting widespread speculation about a potential increase in the corps members’ allowance. Many had called for the government to review the stipend in light of the new wage policy. However, the NYSC management had maintained that only the Federal Government could make such a decision.
In her statement, Embu explained that the Director General of the NYSC, Brigadier-General Yusha’u Ahmed, played a key role in advocating for the improved welfare of corps members.
“Before this, the Director General, NYSC Brigadier General YD Ahmed, had paid an advocacy visit to the Chairman in which he solicited for a robust welfare package for corps members,” she said.
Brigadier-General Ahmed expressed gratitude to the government for the timely intervention. He noted that the increase would provide much-needed relief to corps members and boost their morale, encouraging them to contribute more effectively to national development during their service year.
“The NYSC boss is thankful to the Federal Government for the timely gesture and is optimistic that it will not only bring much-needed succour to the corps members but also boost their morale and motivate them to do even more in their service to the nation,” Embu stated.
The news has been met with widespread appreciation from current corps members and prospective ones, who have long expressed concerns about the adequacy of their previous allowance in meeting their basic needs. Many have pointed out that the N33,000 monthly stipend was barely enough to cover accommodation, transportation, and other essential expenses, especially in cities with a high cost of living.
A corps member serving in Lagos, Emeka Udeh, shared his excitement about the new development.
“This is great news for all of us! It has been difficult to survive on N33,000, especially in a place like Lagos where rent and transportation are expensive. This new allowance will definitely make life easier for us,” he said.
Another corps member in Abuja, Fatima Yusuf, expressed similar sentiments.
“The increase is long overdue. Many of us were struggling to make ends meet, and this new amount will help us focus more on our service without constantly worrying about finances,” she said.
With the new allowance, the Federal Government aims to provide better financial support for corps members, enabling them to carry out their primary assignments and community development projects more effectively. The increase is also expected to motivate more young graduates to take up the challenge of serving in different parts of the country, thereby fostering national unity and development.