After months of delays and uncertainty, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members may finally receive their much-anticipated new monthly allowance of ₦77,000, with the Federal Government promising to settle the backlog of payments owed to both current and former corps members.
In September 2024, the Nigerian government announced an increase in the NYSC allowance from ₦33,000 to ₦77,000 per month. The announcement was met with excitement by corps members who saw it as a long-overdue adjustment, especially in the wake of the rising cost of living in the country. However, despite the promise, the new allowance rate has yet to be implemented, leaving many corps members disappointed and frustrated.
On Monday, the Federal Government finally offered clarity, with the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, assuring that the backlog of payments for the increased allowance would be settled soon. Olawande’s statement, made during a feature on Channels Television’s Politics Today, reassured corps members that they would not be left out.
“You saw the new DG (Director General) saying that you will get it, and they’re asking him a question ‘What about those that are going out now, are they going to receive it [backlog]?’ He said ‘We have your details’,” Olawande said, referring to a previous statement made by the new DG of the NYSC, Olakunle Nafiu.
The minister further added, “The backlog, we will work on it and make sure it is paid. It may not be immediate but it will happen.”
This announcement brings much-needed relief to the thousands of corps members who have been eagerly awaiting the payment of the new allowance. The Federal Government had previously promised the increment, but it faced delays, causing frustration among corps members, especially those who were expecting the higher allowance to be implemented immediately after the announcement.
While corps members have long been hoping for the increased allowance, the delay in its implementation has raised several questions. According to the Minister of Youth Development, the delay was due to budgetary issues. Olawande explained that the increase in the allowance was not initially included in the national budget for 2024, which led to complications in securing the necessary funding for the payment.
“I’ve explained this several times. Some people said, I always say ‘It is a process. It is a process.’ But it’s seriously a process. It’s a government line. You cannot do a corner piece to do it. It was not in the budget when the president announced it, and for some agencies and parastatals, you need your salary to be in the budget before it is paid,” Olawande said.
The minister further clarified that the process to ensure that the new allowance was included in the budget had now been completed. He stated, “Before anybody can approve anything, you must have a budgetary allocation for it. But the budgetary allocation has been done now. We are done with the process and it has been approved. It has been signed, and now they can start paying it.”
Despite the assurance that the backlog will be paid, the exact timeline for the disbursement remains unclear. Olawande stated that it might take some time before corps members begin receiving the new ₦77,000 monthly allowance, but the government is committed to ensuring the payments are made.
For many corps members, this delay has been a source of frustration, especially since the promise was made in September 2024. The initial announcement had sparked high expectations, with corps members hopeful that the increase would improve their financial situation, especially given the current economic challenges in Nigeria.
Olawande’s comments, however, have raised hopes that the situation will soon be rectified. He confirmed that both serving corps members and those who were in the scheme when the increase was announced would receive backdated payments for the months they missed. This is expected to cover the period from when the allowance was supposed to increase until now.
The promise of backdated payments means that all eligible corps members will be compensated for the months they have missed out on the increased allowance. According to the Minister, this includes serving corps members as well as those who were in the NYSC scheme when the allowance increase was first announced.
The delay in payment has been particularly tough for many corps members who depend on the allowance to support themselves during their year of service. The increase to ₦77,000 was expected to provide a significant boost to their monthly earnings, which in many cases are the primary source of income for young graduates serving in various parts of the country.
The backlog of payments will help ease some of the financial strain caused by the delay. However, many corps members are eager to know when exactly the payments will be made and if the government will stick to its promise.
The delay in implementing the ₦77,000 allowance has drawn criticism from many quarters. Some corps members have expressed frustration with the government’s failure to fulfill its promise on time. The delay has caused some to question the government’s commitment to improving the welfare of youth in the NYSC program.
In the meantime, some corps members have had to rely on personal savings or family support to get through the months without the promised increase in allowance. This has been particularly challenging for those serving in states with higher living costs, where the original ₦33,000 was often insufficient to cover basic needs.
On the other hand, the government’s promise to pay the backlog has offered some relief to these corps members, though many still remain skeptical about the implementation timeline.
As the government promises to settle the backlog and implement the ₦77,000 monthly allowance, corps members are now hoping that such delays will be avoided in the future. The government has assured that the necessary budgetary allocations have been made, and that the process of disbursement will soon begin.
The NYSC program, which plays a vital role in national development by deploying young graduates across the country, has long been a source of both pride and concern. While the program provides invaluable experience for the nation’s youth, ensuring that their welfare is taken care of remains a critical issue.
For many corps members, the payment of the new allowance is not just a matter of financial support, but a symbol of the government’s commitment to the well-being of its youth. With the backlog set to be paid, the hope is that the government will continue to prioritize the needs of the NYSC members, ensuring that future delays are avoided.
