Members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) are voicing their frustration regarding the Federal Government’s failure to pay the long-promised increase in their monthly allowance from ₦33,000 to ₦77,000. This increase, which was approved by the government, was anticipated to be implemented in July 2024.
NYSC Director-General Brig. Gen. Yushau Ahmed previously announced that corps members would start receiving the new allowance in February 2025. However, recent reports reveal that this payment has not yet started. Many corps members reported receiving only the original N33,000 for their February allowance.
A corps member serving in Abia State voiced concerns about the government’s sincerity, stating that the current N33,000 is insufficient to cover basic living expenses. Speaking anonymously, she explained, “The PPA where we are posted doesn’t provide accommodation, and we have to handle that ourselves. It’s nearly impossible to survive on N33,000 a month. Some PPAs pay as little as N4,000, which makes it even harder.”
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Another NYSC member in Osun echoed these feelings of helplessness, stating, “After calculating my expenses, I find that I spend over N70,000 a month. The transportation cost alone is over N12,000. This allowance is simply not enough; I’ve had to ask my mother for support because of this.”
A corps member in Lagos also expressed disappointment, saying, “With everything getting more expensive, how do they expect us to survive on N33,000? They keep promising us N77,000, but nothing has come through.”
Attempts to reach NYSC’s Director of Communication, Carol Embu, for comment went unanswered. However, an anonymous senior NYSC official confirmed that payments for the new allowance have yet to begin, stating, “We are yet to start payment for the new allowance.”
As the situation remains unresolved, many NYSC members are left waiting for the promised increase in their salaries, highlighting the ongoing struggles they face amid rising living costs.
