The Federal Government has approved a significant increase in the monthly allowance for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, raising it to ₦77,000 effective July 2024. This adjustment aligns with the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act of 2024, aimed at enhancing compensation for workers nationwide.
Caroline Embu, a spokesperson for the NYSC, made this announcement in a statement on Wednesday. The approval was formalized in a letter from the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission, dated September 25, 2024, and signed by Chairman Ekpo Nta.
The decision follows an advocacy visit by NYSC Director-General Brigadier General YD Ahmed to the Commission, where he urged a more robust welfare package for Corps members. “The NYSC Boss is thankful to the Federal Government for this timely gesture,” Embu stated. “He is optimistic that this increase will not only provide much-needed relief to Corps members but also boost their morale and motivate them to contribute even more during their service to the nation.”
Before this increase, Corps members received ₦33,000 per month. This marked a substantial rise from the previous allowance of ₦19,800, which had been adjusted following the enactment of a new minimum wage in 2020.
The recent wage adjustment comes after President Bola Tinubu signed the minimum wage bill into law in late July, concluding months of discussions among government officials, labor unions, and the private sector. This legislation raised the National Minimum Wage from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000, reflecting the government's commitment to improving workers' welfare across the board.