In a move that has brewed frustration and disappointment among National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, the federal government has failed to fulfill its promise after five months of increasing the monthly allowance for corps members to N77,000, leaving them with the same N33,000 allowance, that many have long criticised as insufficient.
Despite an earlier commitment from the government following President Bola Tinubu’s approval of the upward review of the national minimum wage to N70,000 last year, corps members across Nigeria were disheartened to find that their allowances remained unchanged for the month of February 2025.
The expectation was that the promised N77,000 would take effect in February, but it never materialised, prompting a wave of anger and disappointment.
NewsDirect reports that the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Yushau Ahmed, had assured corps members in January that the new allowance would commence in February.
However, the promise has now been left unfulfilled, further deepening the disillusionment among young Nigerians who have been serving the country with little financial support.
The lack of follow-through on the N77,000 promise has triggered mixed reactions from corps members in different parts of the country.
Across different states, corps members who spoke with our correspondent have been vocal about the unmet promise, with many citing the insufficient N33,000 as a major obstacle to their survival.
Some have even described the allowance as nothing more than a “begging salary,” forcing them to rely on credit or support from family members just to make ends meet.
Olamide Adebayo, a corps member serving in Lagos State, lamented, “I’m really disappointed, this N33,000 is just nothing. It’s like the government doesn’t understand what we go through. We have to buy things on credit, and many times, I don’t even have enough to feed properly.
“If we are truly serving the nation, why are they treating us like this? I had hope when I heard the promise of N77,000, but it’s like waiting for the coming of Jesus at this point. I don’t even know when or if that increase will ever happen!”
Also, Chijioke, serving in Ogun State, echoed similar frustrations, saying, “It’s heartbreaking, to say the least. The government made promises that we would be taken care of, but this N33,000 allowance is a joke.
“I have to rely on my family back home in the East to make ends meet, and even then, it’s a struggle. The N77,000 promise seemed like it was a light at the end of the tunnel. Now, it feels like we are abandoned, with no one thinking about us. We are basically beggars with that N33,000.”
In Edo State, Ifeoma Okeke expressed her disillusionment with the government’s broken promise, “This government promised us N77,000, and we were hopeful. Now, they’ve reneged on it, and we are left with this pathetic N33,000. How do they expect us to survive in this economy?
“Things are getting more expensive, and this allowance doesn’t cover half of what we need. We are forced to buy on credit just to get by. They’ve failed us completely, and it’s really disheartening to see how they treat us like we don’t matter.”
Similarly, in Katsina State, Umar Musa voiced his frustration with the current allowance, which he described as “insufficient” for the high cost of living. “The N33,000 allowance is an insult to us! I feel betrayed. I live in a rural area, and things are expensive. The N33,000 barely covers my transport to the office, let alone feeding and personal expenses.
“The promise of N77,000 felt like a lifeline, but now it seems as though it was just a political statement to get us to vote for them. I’m not even sure when or if that promise will ever be fulfilled. It’s disheartening and frustrating.”
Meanwhile, some National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members have expressed their frustration and anger on X (formerly Twitter).
Investor_Timzz posted: “I often think about how some people manage to survive on 33k. Nigeria is really tough right now, make I just finish this NYSC asap “ — expressing frustration over the inadequate allowance.
Another user, @Quan, sarcastically remarked, “Till we do our POP, 77kpa they no go pay,” indicating a belief that the promised increase is unlikely to materialize anytime soon.
In Adamawa, @Khadijah_Kuburah shared her frustration about not receiving even the state allowance promised by the state governor since December, saying, “Even state allowance wey our state governor promise to increase, since December we no see anything. Not even the normal payment. It is well.”
Many others have also voiced their displeasure over the ongoing situation. @Big AKP humorously tweeted, “Lol wetin them wan use campaign for 2027 elections? Na late 2026 them fit start payment oo,” referring to the belief that the government will not fulfill its promise until much later, possibly in the run-up to the next election.
@VillainX advised corps members to be patient, writing: “There are more pressing issues on president’s desk and this is not one of them. However, as 2027 draws close, rest assured they will pay the backlog of it.”
However, the cynicism surrounding the situation was echoed by @Ogechuckwu Chime, who said, “The payment will start in the next general election so Corps members can show solidarity during election duty.”
Other corps members, like @Aregs, lamented that the hope of seeing the promised increase had only been renewed to disappointment, calling it a “game” played by those in power.
Meanwhile, @Ike of Enugu, a corps member serving in Delta State, criticised the system, stating, “There are forces that won’t allow it to be scrapped. Many individuals are embezzling a lot of money in the name of being NYSC staff. The whole system is messed up. I’m a Corp Member serving in Delta, I don’t even know how I’ve been surviving on the meagre 33k. It has been GOD.”
