FG reneges on promise to pay NYSC members N77,000 new allowance

FG reneges on promise to pay NYSC members N77,000 new allowance

National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members have voiced their frustration over the Federal Government’s delay in implementing the approved N77,000 monthly allowance.

In 2024, the President Bola Tinubu’-led government announced an increase in the corps members’ stipends from N33,000 to N77,000, with the increment set to take effect from July. The NYSC Director-General, Brig. Gen. Yushau Ahmed, had attributed the delay to funding issues, assuring corps members that payments would commence in February 2025.

Despite this pledge, findings indicate that corps members only received the previous N33,000 allowance for February.

Speaking anonymously, a corps member in Abia State criticized the government for failing to fulfill its promise.

She said, “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.

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“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.”

Another corps member in Osun shared similar concerns, saying, “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.”

A corps member serving in Lagos added, “I don’t know how they expect us to survive on N33,000 when there is so much hardship. They keep promising N77,000, yet we have not seen anything.”

Efforts to get an official response from NYSC’s Director of Communication, Carol Embu, were unsuccessful, as calls and text messages went unanswered.

However, an NYSC official, speaking anonymously, confirmed the delay.

“We are yet to start payment for the new allowance,” the official said.

FG reneges on promise to pay NYSC members N77,000 new allowance

(PUNCH)