NYSC Members to Get Backlog Payment of ₦77,000 Allowance – FG

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to clearing the backlog of the new ₦77,000 monthly allowance for members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) after months of delays.

The government had announced the increment from ₦33,000 to ₦77,000 in September 2024, aligning with the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024. However, despite repeated assurances, the payment has yet to be implemented, causing frustration among corps members.

Addressing the issue on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, reassured corps members that the payment would be made, including backdated allowances for those who were in service when the increment was announced.

“You saw the new NYSC DG saying that corps members will receive their allowances, and he was asked, ‘What about those passing out? Will they get the backlog?’ He assured them, saying, ‘We have your details.’ The backlog will be worked on, and we will ensure payment. It may not happen immediately, but it will be done,” Olawande stated.

Last week, the NYSC Director-General, Olakunle Nafiu, also confirmed that corps members should expect the new allowance to take effect from March 2025, a statement the minister reinforced.

Olawande explained that the delay was caused by budgetary constraints, emphasizing that before any government payment can be approved, there must be a budgetary allocation.

“I’ve explained this several times. Some people say I always say, ‘It’s a process,’ but that’s the reality. Government payments follow due process. When the President announced the increment, it was not in the budget, and for agencies like the NYSC, allowances must be budgeted for before payments are made.

“But now, the budgetary allocation has been completed, the process is done, and the approval has been signed. They can now begin payments,” the minister assured.

With the approval in place, corps members across the country eagerly anticipate the commencement of the long-awaited allowance payment.