NYSC to Spend N307.6bn on Corps Members’ Allowances Amid Minimum Wage Increase

NYSC to Spend N307.6bn on Corps Members’ Allowances Amid Minimum Wage Increase

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is set to allocate N307.6 billion for the mobilisation and payment of allowances to corps members following the increase in their monthly stipend from N33,000 to N77,000. This adjustment follows the implementation of the new minimum wage bill, signed into law in May 2024.

The NYSC mobilises an average of 1,200 to 1,500 corps members per camp across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with three batches—A, B, and C—mobilised annually. This results in approximately 55,500 corps members per batch and a total annual mobilisation of about 333,000 corps members.

With each corps member entitled to N77,000 per month, the total payout per batch is estimated at N25.64 billion, accumulating to N307.6 billion for the year.

In the 2025 budget proposal, presented by President Bola Tinubu in December 2024, the Federal Government allocated N430.7 billion to the NYSC—the highest allocation in five years. Of this, N372.9 billion (86.5%) was earmarked for corps members’ allowances.

Despite the September 2024 announcement of the new allowance, the Federal Government has yet to commence payments, with corps members still receiving the previous N33,000 stipend.

Following the failure to implement the new payments in February 2025, the acting Director of Press and Public Relations, Caroline Embu, stated that the NYSC was still awaiting necessary cash backing from the government.

In a recent WhatsApp message, the newly appointed NYSC Director-General, Brig. Gen. Olakunle Nafiu, assured corps members that payments would commence in March 2025. However, further efforts to obtain additional comments from NYSC officials were unsuccessful, as calls and messages to the spokesperson remained unanswered.

Corps members and stakeholders now await the implementation of the long-anticipated N77,000 allowance, as pressure mounts on the government to fulfill its commitment.