The Federal Government has officially approved a significant increase in the monthly allowance for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, raising it to ₦77,000, effective from July 2024.
In a statement on Wednesday, NYSC spokesperson Caroline Embu confirmed the increment, aligning it with the new National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act of 2024. The approval came in a letter dated September 25, 2024, from the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission, signed by its Chairman, Ekpo Nta.
Embu shared that NYSC Director General, Brigadier General YD Ahmed, had previously advocated for better welfare for Corps Members during a visit to the Commission’s Chairman. General Ahmed expressed gratitude to the Federal Government, noting that this adjustment will not only provide much-needed financial relief but also boost the morale of Corps Members in their service to the nation.
Before this latest raise, Corps Members were receiving ₦33,000 monthly. The last increase occurred in 2020, when allowances were raised from ₦19,800 to ₦33,000, following the approval of a ₦30,000 minimum wage.
In late July 2024, President Bola Tinubu signed into law a new minimum wage bill, which increased the national minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000, concluding months of discussions between the government, labor unions, and the private sector.