Victoria Mbangwa
Corps members across the country have expressed frustration over the continued delay in the payment of the newly approved N77,000 monthly allowance, months after the Federal Government announced the increase.
Despite assurances from the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Yushau Ahmed, that payment would commence by February 2025, corps members received only N33,000 for the month, sparking widespread concerns about their welfare.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has also weighed in on the matter, demanding answers from the NYSC and urging the Federal Government to probe the delay.
In a statement on Sunday, NANS National Vice President, Inter-Campus Affairs, Felicia Akinbodunse, described the situation as “unjust,” particularly at a time when the economic hardship in the country is worsening.
Akinbodunse noted that findings from her office revealed that the NYSC had promised to pay at least N70,000 in February, yet corps members still received the old N33,000 stipend.
She questioned why the scheme was yet to implement the increase when federal and state government workers had already started receiving the new minimum wage.
Meanwhile, NANS has promised to engage with the NYSC leadership to get a clearer explanation for the delay, while insisting that corps members deserve prompt payment of the approved allowance.
“The leadership of the student body would equally interface with the NYSC to find out why corps members are yet to benefit from the new minimum wage of N77,000, even when staff of the NYSC are receiving the increase in pay from the Federal Government.” She said.
The NYSC, on its part, has attributed the delay to the non-release of funds, but with mounting pressure from corps members and student leaders, many are hoping for a swift resolution to the issue.
