NYSC denies Directive To Pay Corps Members ₦70,000 Minimum Wage

NYSC DG Brigadier General Yushau Ahmed

Brig Gen Yushau Ahmed, The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps, says the Federal government has yet to increase the monthly allowances of serving NYSC corps members even weeks after the new national minimum wage of ₦70,000 had been signed into law.

The National Youth Service Corps made this announcement and denied reports on social media indicating that corps members’ bank accounts were being upgraded to accommodate the N70,000 new national minimum wage.

A statement signed by the Director of Public Relations of the Corps, Eddy Megwa, said no directive has been received from the relevant sector of government responsible for raising the allowance of corps members.

The National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) while disclaiming all false reports said that the Nigerian government has not yet increased remuneration for corps members. Nigerians participating in the one-year NYSC scheme are currently paid a ₦33,000 monthly allowance.

Brig Gen Yushau Ahmed said his comments were misrepresented when he spoke during the visit of the Director-General of the NYSC to the NYSC orientation camp in Ogun State on Saturday, on the possibility that corps members would have their allowances increased as soon as the negotiations on minimum wage negotiation are completed.

Recall that in 2020, the NYSC increased the allowances of corps members from ₦19,800 to ₦33,000, months after a new minimum wage bill of ₦30,000 was signed. In July 2024, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the minimum wage bill into law, ending months of deliberations between government authorities, labour unions, and the private sector.

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Queen Temitope

Queen Temitope is a writer for HighJobLink Limited on matters that concerns the African Economy.