Ruth Semilore
Despite assurances from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) that corps members’ monthly allowance would be increased to ₦77,000 starting February 2025, the Nigerian government has continued to pay the old ₦33,000 stipend.
According to Terry A news, multiple corps members confirmed receiving their February allowance on Friday night, only to find that it remained at ₦33,000—less than half of the promised amount.
This contradicts the assurances given in January by NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Yushau Ahmed, who had stated that the increment was approved and only awaiting the passage of the 2025 budget.
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“The Federal Government has already approved the increment of your allowance. It is no longer news; we have the approval in our hands. What we are waiting for is just the passage of the budget,” Ahmed told corps members in Katsina State, adding that payments would begin in February.
However, with February now past, the increase remains unimplemented. The Tinubu-led administration has yet to provide an official explanation for the delay, leaving corps members frustrated amid rising inflation and worsening economic conditions.
Given the skyrocketing cost of living, the ₦33,000 stipend is no longer sufficient for basic needs. Many corps members struggle to afford food, transportation, and accommodation as essential goods become increasingly expensive due to economic instability and the naira’s depreciation.
A corps member serving in Oyo State expressed his frustration:
“How do they expect us to survive on ₦33,000 when everything is expensive? They told us we would get ₦77,000 this month, and now they have failed again. This government keeps making promises but never delivers.”
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Another corps member in Kano described the situation as yet another example of the government’s disregard for young Nigerians.
“We are serving our country, yet we cannot even afford decent meals. The government knows that ₦33,000 is not enough, but they don’t care. They keep making empty promises while we suffer,” she said.
