NIGERIA: NANS Demands Probe Into NYSC Over Non-Payment Of N77,000 NYSC Corps Allowance

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria 

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has urged the Federal Government to investigate the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) over its failure to implement the newly approved N77,000 monthly allowance for corps members.

NANS expressed disappointment that despite the Federal Government’s approval of the increase from N33,000 to N77,000 effective July 2024, the NYSC has yet to commence payment.

NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Yushau Ahmed, however, stated that the delay in the increase is attributed to the non-release of funds.

In a statement on Sunday, NANS National Vice President for Inter-Campus Affairs, Felicia Akinbodunse, justified the call for a probe, emphasizing that the NYSC had promised to implement the new allowance by the end of February 2025.

She questioned why the payment had not commenced, despite Ahmed’s assurance that corps members would begin receiving N77,000 in February.

Findings from her office revealed that corps members received only N33,000 for February, contrary to the N70,000 the NYSC had previously promised.

Akinbodunse highlighted that both the Federal Government and several state governments had already started paying their workers the new minimum wage of N70,000.

She argued that there was no justification for withholding corps members’ approved allowances.

Describing the situation as a “gross injustice,” she insisted that corps members should not still be receiving the old allowance months after the Federal Government’s approval and implementation.

NANS has however called on the NYSC to provide an explanation for the delay and urged the Federal Government to investigate the matter.

Akinbodunse also warned that withholding the new allowance could demoralize corps members, particularly given the country’s economic conditions.

She further stated that the student body would engage directly with the NYSC leadership to understand why corps members had not yet received the increased allowance, even though NYSC staff had already benefited from the Federal Government’s wage adjustment.