The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced a significant increase in the monthly allowance for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members.
Effective from July 2024, corps members will now receive ₦77,000 each month.
This increase is ₦7,000 above the new national minimum wage, bringing a sense of relief and excitement to corps members across the country.
The increase was confirmed in a letter from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC).
The letter, dated September 25, 2024, was signed by the commission’s chairman, Mr. Ekpo Nta.
In response to the announcement, corps members have expressed their happiness and relief.
Many had been eagerly awaiting the implementation of the new minimum wage, and this increase has surpassed their expectations.
The new monthly allowance of ₦77,000 is part of a broader adjustment to the country’s minimum wage structure.
Earlier in the year, the Federal Government had passed the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024, which set the national minimum wage at ₦70,000.
With this new law in place, corps members were expecting a raise in their stipends.
However, the increase to ₦77,000 came as a pleasant surprise, being ₦7,000 more than the minimum wage.
The Acting Director of Information and Public Relations for NYSC, Caroline Embu, released a statement confirming the new allowance.
In her statement, she explained that the increment is directly tied to the new minimum wage act.
“This is in line with the enactment of the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024, which pegs the minimum wage of workers at ₦70,000,” the statement read.
The Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier General YD Ahmed, has been a strong advocate for the welfare of corps members.
Before this increase was announced, Brigadier General Ahmed had met with the chairman of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.
During his visit, he pushed for a robust welfare package for corps members, emphasizing the importance of boosting their morale and supporting their efforts during their service year.
The NYSC DG expressed his gratitude to the Federal Government for their decision to increase the allowance.
He said the new stipend would not only bring much-needed financial relief to corps members but would also motivate them to perform their duties with more dedication and enthusiasm.
“The NYSC boss is thankful to the Federal Government for the timely gesture and is optimistic that it will not only bring much-needed succour to the Corps Members but also boost their morale and motivate them to do even more in their service to the nation,” the statement concluded.
Across Nigeria, corps members are expressing their excitement about the new allowance.
For many, the increase is a lifeline, as they struggle to cope with the rising cost of living.
Before this increase, the monthly stipend for corps members was ₦33,000, which was pegged to the old national minimum wage.
This figure, however, had become insufficient in the face of rising inflation, increased transportation costs, and the general economic challenges facing many Nigerians.
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) was established in 1973 as a program aimed at promoting unity and national development.
It requires all Nigerian graduates under the age of 30 to serve the nation for one year.
During this service, corps members are deployed to different parts of the country where they work in various sectors including education, health, and community development.
Over the years, the monthly allowance given to corps members has been a subject of debate and concern.
Initially, the allowance was ₦19,800 before it was increased to ₦33,000 in 2020 following the implementation of a new minimum wage.
However, with inflation and the rising cost of living, corps members and the general public had been calling for another increase.
In July 2024, those calls were finally answered with this new announcement of ₦77,000.
### Economic Impact and Government’s Response
This move by the Federal Government is not only beneficial for corps members, but also for the overall economy.
By increasing the allowance of corps members, the government is injecting more money into the economy.
This increase in spending power is expected to stimulate local economies, especially in rural areas where corps members are often deployed.
The government has positioned this increase as part of a broader effort to improve the welfare of all Nigerian workers, particularly in light of the recent amendment to the minimum wage act.
The National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024 raised the minimum wage to ₦70,000, and the Federal Government has been steadily implementing this change across all sectors.
