NYSC Members Celebrate as FG Begins Payment of N77,000 Allowance
After months of anticipation and delays, members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have finally begun receiving the revised monthly allowance of ₦77,000. Many corps members confirmed on Wednesday that they had received bank alerts reflecting the long-awaited increase, bringing an end to the uncertainty and frustration that had built up over the past few months.
The announcement follows assurances from the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, who had promised in a recent television interview that the payments would be processed before the end of March. While this development comes as a relief for thousands of corps members, lingering concerns remain over unpaid arrears, which were not included in the latest disbursement.
A senior official from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) acknowledged that while the new allowance had been successfully processed, the backlog of unpaid stipends had yet to be settled. The official assured that discussions were ongoing and that the outstanding payments would be addressed in due course.
The increase in the NYSC allowance was first announced in September 2023 as part of efforts to align the stipends with the new National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024. This policy adjustment saw the monthly payment jump from ₦33,000 to ₦77,000. However, despite its approval, the implementation faced significant delays due to financial and administrative hurdles.
Addressing concerns over the delays, Olawande explained that although President Bola Tinubu had approved the increment months ago, the necessary budgetary allocations were not immediately available. He emphasized that in government, financial approvals must be backed by official budget provisions before they can be executed.
"It was not included in the budget when the President announced it. Before any agency or parastatal can receive payments, their allocations must be accounted for in the budget," Olawande stated. He added that the necessary adjustments had now been finalized, allowing for the long-awaited rollout of the increased allowance.
The Director General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, had also reassured corps members last week that payments would begin in March, a promise that has now materialized. While this marks a crucial step in fulfilling the government’s commitment to supporting young graduates during their national service, many corps members remain anxious about when the outstanding arrears will be settled.
For months, corps members have expressed frustration over the delays, with some staging protests and voicing concerns on social media about their financial struggles. The abrupt rise in the cost of living has only intensified these grievances, as many rely heavily on their monthly stipends to cover essential expenses such as rent, transportation, and food.
One corps member, who received the new allowance on Wednesday, described the moment as a relief but stressed that the government still needed to do more. "We are grateful that the increase has finally been implemented, but we also need our arrears paid. Many of us have been struggling financially, and every kobo counts," she said.
Another corps member shared a similar sentiment, stating that while the increment was a welcome development, the government should prioritize clearing the backlog to fully restore confidence in its commitment to youth welfare. "We have been patient for so long, and while this is a good step, the battle isn’t over yet. We need to see the arrears paid without any further excuses," he remarked.
The implementation of the ₦77,000 allowance is expected to significantly improve the financial stability of corps members, particularly in light of the country’s economic challenges. However, some financial analysts caution that without a corresponding increase in overall economic productivity and employment opportunities, inflationary pressures could erode the purchasing power of the new stipend.
Despite the excitement surrounding the payment, some corps members remain skeptical about future delays. Given the government’s track record of slow policy implementation, they worry that the same bureaucratic obstacles that delayed the allowance might affect the disbursement of their unpaid arrears.
For now, the focus remains on ensuring that the government fulfills its promise to settle all outstanding payments. With the initial hurdle of implementing the new allowance now cleared, corps members hope that their remaining concerns will be addressed swiftly.
As Nigeria continues to navigate economic reforms and youth empowerment initiatives, the NYSC allowance increment represents a positive but incomplete step toward providing young graduates with the financial support they need. Whether the government can sustain this commitment without future delays remains to be seen.
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