The Federal Government has approved the implementation of a new monthly allowance of N77,000 for members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), with effect from March 2025, in line with the provisions of the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024.
The Director General of NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Akinyemi Nafiu, made the announcement on Thursday during a visit to corps members at the Wuse and Garki Zonal Offices in Abuja.
He assured them that payment would commence promptly and that all eligible corps members would be credited without delay.
The new allowance represents a 133% increase from the previous monthly stipend of N33,000, which had been in effect since 2020.
The increment is a direct result of wage adjustments approved by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) in a letter dated September 25, 2024 and signed by its Chairman, Ekpo Nta.
Addressing the corps members, Brig. Gen. Nafiu stated, “With effect from March, you are going to receive the sum of Seventy-Seven Thousand Naira as your monthly allowance. NYSC is good at record keeping, and I can assure you that your money will be paid. The Nation and the Scheme appreciate you.”
He commended corps members for their selfless service across the country and encouraged them to remain calm, focused, disciplined, and dedicated to their national assignment.
He also reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring that the welfare of youth corps members remains a top priority.
The NYSC DG further highlighted the strategic importance of the Scheme, stating that the NYSC continues to serve as a unifying force in the country by fostering cultural integration, national service and community development.
“NYSC is a beautiful scheme that is building bridges and exposing graduate youths to learn and understand the cultural values of places outside their birthplaces,” he said.
In recent years, the rising cost of living and inflationary pressures have led to increased calls for the upward review of the NYSC allowance.
The new minimum wage adjustment aligns with broader government efforts to ease economic hardship and support young Nigerians entering the workforce.
Under the updated compensation structure, corps members posted to public and private institutions nationwide will benefit equally, pending any additional stipends provided by state governments or host institutions.
The implementation of the new allowance comes at a time when Nigeria is grappling with economic headwinds, including a volatile naira and elevated inflation, currently at a 27-year high.
Nonetheless, the government maintains that investments in youth empowerment remain critical to national development.
The NYSC, established in 1973, continues to play a vital role in national capacity-building, with tens of thousands of graduates deployed annually across education, healthcare and rural development sectors.
As at the time of this report, the NYSC Secretariat confirmed that payment logistics were already being finalized ahead of the March disbursement.
