The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) will be spending an estimated N307.6 billion on mobilization and corps members’ allowance as their allowance was increased from N33,000 to N77,000, a statement released by the scheme in September 2024 added.
According to gistreel, the pay rise followed the passage of the new minimum wage bill in May 2024. However, five months down the line after the announcement, the Federal Government is yet to commence the payment of the new allowance. The average number of 1,200 to 1,500 corps members is mobilized by the NYSC across each orientation camp in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Three batches are mobilised annually, namely A, B and C, totaling approximately 333,000 corps members mobilized each year.
With the new N77,000 monthly allowance, the government will likely pay around N25.64 billion per batch and N307.6 billion yearly.
In the 2025 budget submitted by President Bola Tinubu in December 2024, N430.7 billion was proposed to be spent on the NYSC—the largest in five years. N372.9 billion (86.5%) of that amount was to be used for corps members’ allowances.
Even as it was allocated in the budget, corps members have not been given the envisaged N77,000 monthly allowance.
Responding to inquiries, NYSC’s acting Director of Press and Public Relations, Caroline Embu, explained that the delay had been occasioned by the failure of the government to provide the necessary cash backing.
“The cash backing is yet to be received,” she snapped.
In a WhatsApp message sent on Wednesday allegedly, however, Brig. Gen. Olakunle Nafiu, the new NYSC Director-General, assured that payments would resume in March. The NYSC spokesperson was not available for further clarification despite efforts, with calls and text messages to her going unanswered.
