Members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have voiced their frustration over the Federal Government’s failure to commence the payment of the N77,000 monthly allowance, despite earlier promises. The new allowance was approved in July 2024 as part of efforts to cushion the impact of the current economic hardship. However, corps members across the country are still receiving the old N33,000 allowance, sparking widespread dissatisfaction.
The Director-General of the NYSC, Brig. Gen. Yushau Ahmed, had previously attributed the delay to the non-release of funds by the Federal Government. He assured corps members that the payment would begin in February 2025, but findings by 9am News revealed that the new allowance has yet to be paid, leaving corps members disheartened.
Several corps members confirmed to 9am News that they received only N33,000 as their February allowance on Friday. A corps member serving in Abia State accused the government of insincerity, stating that the current allowance was inadequate to cover basic expenses. She lamented that many corps members had to fend for their own accommodation, transportation, and feeding without any support from their Places of Primary Assignment (PPA).
“The N33,000 is not enough for us. The PPA where we are posted doesn’t provide accommodation; we have to handle that ourselves. The economic situation of the country is not new to anybody. Feeding is another issue in an unfamiliar place. It’s nearly impossible to survive on N33,000 a month,” she told 9am News on condition of anonymity.
Another corps member serving in Osun State described the situation as unbearable, adding that she spends over N70,000 monthly due to the rising cost of transportation and other expenses.
“The Federal Government should do something; this N33,000 is insufficient. After calculating my expenses, I see that I spend over N70,000 a month. The money I spend on transportation alone is over N12,000 monthly, excluding the days I go for CDS. I had to call my mother to ask for support because this monthly allowance is inadequate,” she said.
In Lagos, another corps member expressed her disappointment, questioning how the government expected them to survive on N33,000 amid rising inflation.
Efforts by 9am News to get a response from the Director of Communication of the NYSC, Carol Embu, were unsuccessful, as calls and text messages sent to her went unanswered. However, a senior official of the NYSC, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the scheme had not yet commenced the payment of the N77,000 allowance.
“We are yet to start payment for the new allowance,” the official said.
The delay in the implementation of the increased allowance has left many corps members struggling to meet their daily needs, with mounting calls on the Federal Government to honour its promise and alleviate their financial burdens.
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