There is widespread jubilation as the Federal Government has begun paying the newly increased N77,000 monthly allowance to National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members nationwide. This follows the announcement by NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, that corps members across Nigeria would receive the new N77,000 allowance starting from March 2025.
Many corps members took to social media on Wednesday, March 26, to share screenshots confirming their payments.
On Facebook, Usman Lilussy posted, “Alhamdulillah 77k don land. Thank you baba DG.” Idris Yahuza also posted, “This is the month of joy to all Corps Members 77k don enter.” Similarly, Adeleke Timothy wrote, “The distance you keep while I was collecting 33k. Pls keep the same distance now. FG thanks for the 77k.
The increase in the NYSC monthly allowance to N77,000 is a result of the Nigerian government’s adjustment to the national minimum wage.
The Federal Government enacted the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024, raising the national minimum wage to N70,000. This legislative change necessitated a corresponding adjustment in the allowances of corps members to align their stipends with the new wage structure.
Following the wage amendment, the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission issued a letter in September 2024, approving the increment of corps members’ monthly allowances from N33,000 to N77,000. This approval was in direct response to the new minimum wage policy.
To accommodate this increase, the Federal Government allocated N430.7 billion to the NYSC in the 2025 budget, with N72.9 billion specifically earmarked for corps members’ allowances. This allocation aimed to ensure the financial feasibility of the enhanced stipends.
Despite the approval and budgetary provisions, the disbursement of the increased allowance was delayed, with corps members receiving 33k until February 2025.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government had earlier assured NYSC members that the backlog of their newly approved N77,000 monthly allowance would be paid. Minister of Youth Development Ayodele Olawande reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fulfilling this promise during a national television program monitored in Lagos.
“The backlog, we will work on it and make sure it is paid. It may not be immediate, but it will happen. You saw the new DG saying that you will get it, and they’re asking him a question ‘What are those that are going out now, are they going to receive it (backlog)?’ He said we have your details,” Olawande declared.
