The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has attributed delays in implementing the approved increase in monthly allowance—from ₦33,000 to ₦77,000—to ongoing funding challenges. Despite the Federal Government’s approval of the hike in July 2024 and assurances that payments would start in February 2025, corps members continue to receive the old stipend, fueling frustration amid Nigeria’s rising cost of living.
Carol Embu, the Acting Director of Information and Public Relations at NYSC, explained in an interview in Abuja that the agency is actively pursuing the necessary cash backing for the allowance increase. “We are currently pursuing the cash backing; that is what is happening. We have a new Director-General who has just taken over and is still familiarising himself with the situation,” she said.
Embu stressed that due diligence is taking its course and that no specific timeline could be provided at the moment. She added that the minister overseeing NYSC operations has additional information, and updates will be shared once clarity is achieved.
The delay has left many corps members struggling to cope with financial pressures, as the current stipend is widely regarded as insufficient. Stakeholders continue to call for urgent action to address the funding challenges and ensure the swift implementation of the increased allowance to alleviate the financial burden on corps members.
