After months of delay, the Federal Government has assured members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) that they will receive the backlog of their new ₦77,000 monthly allowance.
The allowance, which was increased from ₦33,000 in September 2024, has yet to be implemented despite multiple promises. However, the government has now confirmed that corps members serving at the time of the announcement will receive backdated payments.
Assurance from FG
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to clearing the arrears.
“You saw the new DG saying that you will get it, and they asked him, ‘What about those that are going out now, are they going to receive the backlog?’ He said, ‘We have your details,’” Olawande said.
“The backlog, we will work on it and make sure it is paid. It may not be immediate, but it will happen.”
His statement aligns with recent remarks from the NYSC Director General, Olakunle Nafiu, who assured corps members that the new allowance would be implemented by March.
Budgetary Delays Hindered Implementation
Despite being announced as part of the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024, the increased allowance has not been disbursed due to budgetary constraints.
Olawande explained that the delay was caused by the need for a proper budgetary allocation before payment could commence.
“I’ve explained this several times. Some people say I always say, ‘It is a process.’ But it is seriously a process,” the minister stated.
“It was not in the budget when the president announced it, and for some agencies and parastatals, your salary needs to be in the budget before it is paid. Before anybody can approve anything, you must have a budgetary allocation for it. But the budgetary allocation has been done now. We are done with the process, it has been approved, signed, and now they can start paying it.”
With this assurance, corps members are hopeful that the long-awaited allowance increase will finally be implemented in the coming weeks.
