Nigerian youth corps members have expressed disappointment and frustration after receiving their monthly allowance of ₦33,000 for September, despite widespread reports of an increase to ₦77,000. The payment, which many had hoped would reflect the newly announced hike in allowance, has sparked outrage across social media, with “₦33k” trending as corps members vent their frustrations.
Earlier this year, following negotiations between the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Federal Government, a new minimum wage of ₦70,000 was agreed upon in June. This was officially signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on July 29, 2023. Last week, the Federal Government announced that the implementation of the new wage had begun and that corps members under the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme would start receiving ₦77,000 as their monthly allowance.
The announcement also mentioned that corps members would be paid arrears covering July and August, raising expectations that the September allowance would reflect the new figure alongside the top-up payments. However, to the disappointment of many, the allowance credited to their accounts remained ₦33,000, leading to widespread dissatisfaction.
Social media has since been flooded with complaints, with many corps members demanding clarity on when the promised ₦77,000 would be paid, alongside the expected arrears. The situation has added to the mounting pressure on the Federal Government to swiftly address the discrepancies in payment and ensure that the promised increase is fully implemented.
As of now, the NYSC and relevant government agencies are yet to issue any official statement addressing the concerns of corps members.
