After months of delay, corps members will receive NYSC arrears of ₦77,000 allowance. The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Olakunle Nafiu has promised and assured that corps members will now enjoy the implementation of the new ₦77,000 monthly allowance.
About The National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024
In September 2024, the Federal Government announced raising the National Minimum Wage from ₦33,000 to ₦77,000. The National Minimum Wage Amendment Act 2024 served as an amendment to the National Minimum Wage Act 2019.
Six months after the announcement, however, the implementation of the new allowance is yet to see the light of day by NYSC members, despite repeated assurances from government authorities.
Why was there a late implementation of the new NYSC Minimum wage?
Despite complains by NYSC corps members, the new minimum wage has not been implemented before now. You recall that in September 2024, the Federal Government increased corps members’ allowance from ₦33,000 to ₦77,000. However, serving corps members and those in the scheme when the increment was announced in September 2024 did not receive any payment; this was up till February 2025.
Creator: OBS
Credit: NYSC Enugu
Multiple statements and explanations from the NYSC officials indicated that the non payment of the new minimum wage and NYSC arrears was due to the fact that was not included in the 2024 budget when the president announced it, and for some agencies and parastatals related to NYSC, you need your salary to be in the budget before it is paid.
According to the Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Olakunle Nafiu, the delay in the implementation of the new NYSC members’ allowance is due to budgetary issues.
Will NYSC arrears and backlog be paid?
Yes. On Monday, the Federal Government promised to pay the backlog of the new ₦77,000 monthly allowance. The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, assured Nigerians. “You saw the new DG saying that you will get it, and when asked if outgone Corps members will get their arrears, he assured they will ‘receive it [backlog]?’ He said ‘We have your details’,”.
The minister also said, “We will work on the backlog and make sure it is paid. It may not be immediate, but it will happen,” Olawande assured. Before anybody can approve anything, you must have a budgetary allocation for it. But the budgetary allocation has been done now. We are done with the process, and it has been approved. It has been signed, and now they can start paying it.”
He further asked corps members to expect the implementation of the new allowance in March 2025.
