The Federal Government has officially approved an increase in the monthly allowance for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members to N77,000, effective from July 2024. This decision comes in response to the enactment of the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024, signed into law by President Bola Tinubu.
The announcement was made in a statement by the NYSC’s acting Director of Information and Public Relations, Caroline Embu. The approval was confirmed through a letter from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, dated September 25, 2024, and signed by the Commission’s Chairman, Mr. Ekpo Nta.
Previously, corps members received a monthly allowance of N33,000 following the minimum wage increase to N30,000 in 2019. The recent amendment to the Minimum Wage Act, which raised the minimum wage for civil servants to N70,000, led to speculation about a corresponding increase for corps members. The NYSC management had maintained that only the Federal Government could approve the adjustment.
In her statement, Embu acknowledged that the NYSC Director General, Brig. Gen. Yusha’u Ahmed, had advocated for improved welfare for corps members during an earlier visit to the National Salaries Commission. The NYSC boss expressed gratitude for the government’s swift action, noting that the pay increase would provide much-needed relief to corps members and encourage them to serve the nation with greater dedication.
“The Federal Government has approved the increase of Corps Members’ monthly allowance to N77,000 with effect from July 2024,” Embu said, emphasizing the positive impact this would have on the morale and productivity of corps members.
