2nd March 2025
By Idris Buba
Despite Federal Government assurance to pay Members of the National Youth Service Corps the new minimum effective end of February 2025, corpers have expressed their disappointment over Federal Government’s failure to live up to it words and pay the N77,000 allowance.
The Federal Government had approved an increase in the corps members’ monthly allowance from N33,000 to N77,000, effective July 2024.
In the same year, the Director-General of the NYSC, Brig. Gen. Yushau Ahmed, had stated that the new allowance was not implemented due to the non-release of funds.
However, the DG later announced that corps members would start receiving the N77,000 by end of February 2025.
Despite the official announcement by the DG, NYSC was yet to commence payment of the N77,000.
On inquiry, Corps members, said they received only N33,000 for their February allowance on Friday.
READ MORE; NYSC DG, Promise Corps Members N77,000 Monthly Allowance From February 2025.
A corps member serving in one of eastern states, accused the Federal Government of insincerity and insensitivity to corpers regarding the payment of the N77,000 allowance.
The corps member, who spoke on condition of anonymity lamented that the N33,000 allowance was grossly inadequate considering the current economic reality.
According to the corper, “The N33,000 is not enough for us. The PPA where we are posted doesn’t provide accommodation; we have to handle that ourselves. The economic situation of the country is not new to anybody. Feeding is another issue in an unfamiliar place. It’s nearly impossible to survive on N33,000 a month. PPAs don’t pay well; some pay as little as N4,000. Imagine surviving on N37,000 a month when you add the N4,000.
“Things are very expensive. I haven’t even included transportation costs. In the fellowship house where I’m staying, we contribute for food, and after that, one is left with a meagre amount. I haven’t even mentioned other bills that have to be paid. The money is very poor, and the Federal Government keeps promising and failing us. This is very bad.”
READ MORE; NYSC Members Now Eligible To Serve In Banks, Others As FG Lifts Ban.
Another corps member serving in the southwest, expressed disappointment with the Federal Government over the delay in paying the new allowance as assured by the DG.
The NYSC, said “The Federal Government should do something; this N33,000 is insufficient. After calculating my expenses, I see that I spend over N70,000 a month. The money I spend on transportation alone is over N12,000 monthly, excluding the days I go for CDS. I had to call my mother to ask for support because this monthly allowance is inadequate. One cannot survive on this unless one is ready to suffer.”
The NYSC members, have called on the federal government to consider their plight and immediately commence the payment of the N77,000 allowance.
