The Federal Government has officially started paying the new monthly allowance of N77,000 to National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, marking a significant increase from the previous N33,000 allowance introduced in 2020 under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The payment commencement follows an announcement by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in September 2024, which initially brought relief and excitement among corps members nationwide. However, the delay in implementation led to disappointment and frustration.
A serving corps member in Kwara State, Adepoju, confirmed the development, describing the increase as “long overdue.” He noted that the payment might be disbursed in batches, as some corps members had already received theirs, while others were still waiting.
The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, had assured that the federal government would pay the backlog of the N77,000 allowance. This assurance was reiterated by the NYSC Director General, Brigadier General Olakunle Akinyemi Nafiu, who stated that payment would commence promptly and that all eligible corps members would be credited without delay.
The new allowance represents a 133% increase from the previous monthly stipend and is part of the government’s efforts to ease economic hardship and support young Nigerians entering the workforce.
Nigerians on social media have reacted to the development, with some expressing gratitude and others wondering why the payment took so long. Twitter user @ToluDaniel10 wrote, “NYSC is finally paying 77k to corps members . If you have this girl’s DM, go say a big thank you. I bet the government wouldn’t have listened to you if not for her”.
The payment of the new allowance is a welcome relief for corps members, who have been advocating for an increase in their stipend due to the rising cost of living and inflationary pressures in the country.
