The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is expected to spend around N307.6 billion on the payment of corps members’ allowances in 2025. This comes after the allowance was increased from N33,000 to N77,000 following the approval of the new minimum wage bill in May 2024.
In a statement released in September 2024, the NYSC announced the adjustment in corps members’ stipends. However, five months later, the new payment structure is yet to take effect.
Each year, the NYSC mobilizes thousands of graduates for the mandatory one-year national service. The orientation program runs in three batches—A, B, and C—across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. On average, about 55,500 corps members are mobilized per batch, leading to an estimated total of 333,000 corps members annually.
With the revised allowance of N77,000 per individual, the cost for each batch is calculated at N25.64 billion. When multiplied by three batches in a year, the total expenditure on corps members’ stipends amounts to N307.6 billion.
In the 2025 budget proposal presented by President Bola Tinubu to the National Assembly in December 2024, a total of N430.7 billion was allocated to the NYSC. This is the highest budgetary provision for the scheme in the last five years. Out of this amount, N372.9 billion—about 86.5% of the total NYSC budget—was set aside for corps members’ allowances.
Despite these allocations, the Federal Government has not yet implemented the N77,000 allowance as promised. The delay has caused concerns among corps members who had expected to start receiving the new payment structure in February 2025.
Addressing the delay, the acting Director of Press and Public Relations, Caroline Embu, stated that the NYSC was still waiting for the required cash backing. “The cash backing is still being awaited,” Embu said in response to inquiries.
Meanwhile, in a WhatsApp message seen by reporters on Wednesday, the newly appointed NYSC Director-General, Brig. Gen. Olakunle Nafiu, reportedly assured that payments would begin in March.
