Members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have expressed frustration over the Federal Government’s continued failure to implement the approved N77,000 allowance.
The government had announced an increase in corps members’ monthly stipend from N33,000 to N77,000, with effect from July 2024. However, the NYSC Director-General, Brig. Gen. Yushau Ahmed, later explained that the delay was due to a lack of released funds, promising that the new allowance would take effect in February 2025.
Despite this assurance, findings by Sunday PUNCH revealed that corps members have not yet received the N77,000, as they were only paid N33,000 for February.
A corps member serving in Abia State, who spoke anonymously, criticized the government’s delay, stating that the current allowance is not enough to meet basic needs.
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.
“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 also complained about the hardship caused by the delay, 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 Lagos-based corps member 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 reach the NYSC Director of Communication, Carol Embu, for a response were unsuccessful as she neither answered calls nor replied to messages.
However, a senior NYSC official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the scheme has not yet started paying the new allowance.
“We are yet to start payment for the new allowance,” the official said.
