Despite assurances from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) that corps members’ monthly allowance would be increased to ₦77,000 starting February 2025, the Federal Government has reportedly failed to implement the increment, leaving corps members stuck with the old ₦33,000 stipend.
Corps Members Express Frustration Over Broken Promise
Multiple corps members confirmed receiving their February allowance on Friday night, only to find that it remained unchanged at ₦33,000—less than half of the promised amount.
This contradicts statements made in January by NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Yushau Ahmed, who assured corps members that the increment had been approved and was only awaiting the passage of the 2025 budget.
“The Federal Government has already approved the increment of your allowance. It is no longer news; we have the approval in our hands. What we are waiting for is just the passage of the budget,” he told corps members in Katsina State at the time.
However, February has passed, and the allowance remains unchanged, with no official explanation from the Tinubu-led administration regarding the delay.
Soaring Inflation Makes ₦33,000 Insufficient
With the rising cost of living, inflation, and naira depreciation, corps members say the ₦33,000 stipend is no longer enough to cover basic necessities like food, transportation, and accommodation.
A corps member serving in Oyo State expressed his frustration:
“How do they expect us to survive on ₦33,000 when everything is expensive? They told us we would get ₦77,000 this month, and now they have failed again. This government keeps making promises but never delivers.”
Another corps member in Kano lamented the situation, calling it another example of government neglect.
“We are serving our country, yet we cannot even afford decent meals. The government knows that ₦33,000 is not enough, but they don’t care. They keep making empty promises while we suffer.”
Will the FG Address the Delay?
As corps members continue to express their anger and disappointment, many are demanding urgent action from the government to fulfill its promise.
With inflation showing no signs of slowing down, will the FG address the delay and implement the ₦77,000 increment, or will corps members continue to struggle on an inadequate stipend?
What are your thoughts on this issue? Should corps members protest the broken promise, or wait for the government to act? Let’s discuss.
