The Nigerian government has assured members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) that they will receive the backlog of their newly approved N77,000 monthly allowance. This comes after months of delay since the allowance increase was announced in September 2024.
The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, made this confirmation during an interview on Politics Today, a program on Channels Television. He reassured corps members that the government is committed to paying the outstanding allowances, though it may take some time.
“You saw the new DG 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 stated. He further explained, “The backlog, we will work on it and make sure it is paid. It may not be immediate but it will happen.”
In September 2024, the federal government announced an increase in the monthly allowance for corps members from N33,000 to N77,000. The decision was made in line with the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024. The announcement was met with enthusiasm from corps members, who were eager to receive the higher payment. However, six months later, the implementation of the new allowance is yet to take effect, causing frustration among beneficiaries.
The delay, according to the minister, was due to budgetary constraints. He explained that when the president announced the increase, the new payment was not initially included in the budget. This meant that the necessary financial approvals had to be secured before payments could commence.
“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,” Olawande stated.
He clarified that the budgetary allocation for the new allowance has now been finalized and approved. With this in place, corps members can expect payments to begin soon.
Last week, the Director-General of NYSC, Olakunle Nafiu, also assured corps members that the new allowance would be implemented by March. His statement aligns with Olawande’s remarks, reinforcing the government’s commitment to resolving the delay.
The payment of the backlog will cover both serving corps members and those who were part of the scheme when the increment was announced. However, while the exact payment timeline remains uncertain, the minister emphasized that the government is working to ensure that all eligible corps members receive their due allowances.
