After months of delays, the Federal Government has finally commenced payment of the revised N77,000 monthly allowance for members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), fulfilling a long-awaited commitment.
Several corps members confirmed receiving the new stipend on Wednesday, bringing an end to prolonged frustration and uncertainty that had triggered protests and widespread concerns.
The payment follows recent assurances by the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, who had pledged during a television interview that disbursements would begin before the end of March.
Arrears Still Unpaid, Accountant General’s Office Confirms
Despite the payment of the new allowance, corps members are still awaiting the settlement of outstanding arrears.
A senior official at the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) confirmed that while the new stipend had been processed, back payments were yet to be cleared.
“The government is still working on the details of the arrears, and efforts are being made to ensure they are paid soon,” the official said.
Background to the NYSC Allowance Increase
The increase in corps members’ stipends was first announced in September 2023, raising the monthly allowance from N33,000 to N77,000 in line with the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024. However, the implementation was stalled due to financial constraints and administrative bottlenecks.
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Defending the government’s delay, Minister Olawande explained that while President Bola Tinubu had approved the increase months ago, the necessary budgetary allocations were not initially in place to support the payments.
“It was not in the budget when the President announced it. Some agencies and parastatals need to have their salaries included in the budget before anything can be done or paid out,” he said.
With the necessary financial adjustments now completed, Olawande confirmed that the government could proceed with full implementation.
NYSC DG Assures Corps Members
Last week, the Director General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, assured corps members that the March allowance would be disbursed, a promise that has now been fulfilled.
While the payment of the N77,000 stipend marks a major milestone, corps members remain hopeful that the government will honor its commitment to clearing the outstanding arrears without further delays.