Nigerian Government Implements Increased Allowance for National Youth Service Corps Members

The Nigerian government has officially sanctioned an increased monthly allowance for members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), raising it to 77,000 Naira, equivalent to $47. Previously, the monthly stipend for Corps members stood at 33,000 Naira, or $20.

According to a statement released by Caroline Embu, the NYSC spokesperson, the revised payments will be retrospectively applied from July 2024. Embu noted that this increment aligns with the new National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act of 2024. “We received this information from a letter issued by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission dated September 25, 2024, and signed by its Chairman, Ekpo Nta,” said Embu.

The legislative body in Nigeria passed the National Minimum Wage Act in July 2024, approving a minimum wage of at least 70,000 Naira, roughly $43, for the country’s low-ranking employees. Many Nigerian workers have long contended that the previous minimum wage of 30,000 Naira, approximately $18, was insufficient, particularly considering the nation’s challenging economic conditions.

For the past five years, Nigeria’s minimum wage was set at 30,000 Naira per month, which was equivalent to $80 in 2019, although the devaluation of the Naira severely impacted its value. The newly approved wage is expected to address some of these economic disparities.

The agreement on the updated minimum wage involved President Bola Tinubu and organized labor unions, culminating in a legislative approval that mandates the immediate application of this wage increase across Nigeria. In the public sector, civil servants will now receive pay corresponding to their job positions, reflecting the newly instituted wages.

Inflation in Nigeria currently stands at around 33%, a factor significantly impacting the cost of goods, including essential food items, leaving many low-income Nigerians struggling to afford basic needs.

In her statement, Embu also pointed out that during a visit by Brigadier General YD Ahmed, the Director General of NYSC, to the Commission’s Chairman, there was an advocacy for improved welfare packages for Corps members. The NYSC leadership expressed gratitude towards the federal government for its swift implementation of this measure.

The increase is anticipated not only to alleviate the financial burdens faced by Corps members but also to enhance their morale and motivation as they continue their national service assignments. The NYSC is a mandatory one-year service for graduates from higher institutions, established in the 1970s to foster unity among Nigeria’s diverse ethnic communities. Typically, NYSC members are assigned to schools or hospitals in regions far from their hometowns, promoting cultural integration across the country.