The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has refuted claims circulating on social media that corps members have been instructed to upgrade their bank accounts in preparation for the payment of a new N70,000 minimum wage.
In a statement issued on Sunday, NYSC spokesperson Eddy Megwa dismissed the reports as “absolute falsehood,” clarifying that the scheme has not received any official directive from the government regarding the new minimum wage for corps members.
Last month, President Bola Tinubu approved an increase in the national minimum wage to N70,000 following weeks of discussions with leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC). However, rumors have since emerged suggesting that corps members were being advised to upgrade their accounts to accommodate the new wage.
Megwa addressed these rumors directly, stating, “The attention of National Youth Service Corps Management has been drawn to a misleading information circulating in the media regarding payment of N70,000 minimum wage to Corps Members and the directive to upgrade their accounts. This is absolute falsehood which is far from the truth.”
He further emphasized that the NYSC will not act outside the directives issued by the relevant government agencies responsible for wage matters. “Corps Members, parents, and members of the public should note that no directive has been received from the relevant sector of government responsible for wages matters. It is therefore impossible for the NYSC to issue any information on such,” Megwa added.
The NYSC spokesperson reassured corps members that any official updates regarding their allowances would be communicated through the appropriate channels. “Corps Members already know the approved channel and mode of communication in the Scheme and should therefore ignore the directive accordingly,” the statement concluded.