The Federal Government has approved an increase in the monthly allowance of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members to ₦77,000, starting from July 2024. This was disclosed in a statement by NYSC’s Acting Director of Information and Public Relations, Caroline Embu, on Wednesday.
The decision follows a letter from the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission, dated September 25, 2024, and signed by the Chairman, Mr. Ekpo Nta. The approval aligns with the enactment of the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024, which raised the national minimum wage to ₦70,000.
Prior to this adjustment, corps members were receiving ₦33,000 per month, a figure set after the last review of the minimum wage to ₦30,000 in 2019.
President Bola Tinubu signed the new Minimum Wage Bill into law on July 29, 2024, prompting widespread speculation about an increase in corps members’ stipends. However, the NYSC management maintained that only the Federal Government could authorize such an increment.
In her statement, Embu highlighted that NYSC Director General Brigadier-General Yusha’u Ahmed had previously advocated for an improved welfare package for corps members during a visit to the National Salaries Commission Chairman. The DG expressed gratitude for the approval, stating that the raise would bring relief to corps members and motivate them in their service to the nation.
This increase comes as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to improve the welfare of young Nigerians engaged in national service.
