NYSC to Spend ₦307.6 Billion on Corps Members’ Allowances Amid Payment Delay

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is expected to spend approximately ₦307.6 billion on mobilization and stipends for corps members following the increase in their monthly allowance from ₦33,000 to ₦77,000, as announced by the scheme in September 2024.

The pay raise was a result of the new minimum wage bill signed into law in May 2024. However, five months after the announcement, the Federal Government has yet to implement the new allowance.

Annually, the NYSC mobilizes around 333,000 corps members in three batches—A, B, and C—across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). With the new ₦77,000 stipend, the government is projected to spend about ₦25.64 billion per batch, amounting to ₦307.6 billion annually.

In the 2025 budget proposal presented by President Bola Tinubu in December 2024, ₦430.7 billion was allocated to the NYSC—the highest in five years. Of this amount, ₦372.9 billion (86.5%) was designated for corps members’ allowances.

Despite this allocation, corps members are yet to receive the increased stipend. Responding to concerns over the delay, NYSC’s acting Director of Press and Public Relations, Caroline Embu, cited the absence of necessary cash backing from the government.

“The cash backing is still being awaited,” she said in a brief statement.

Meanwhile, in a WhatsApp message reportedly sent on Wednesday, the newly appointed NYSC Director-General, Brig. Gen. Olakunle Nafiu, assured corps members that the payments would commence in March.

Efforts to obtain further clarification from the NYSC spokesperson were unsuccessful, as calls and messages remained unanswered.