Brigadier General Olakunle Akinyemi Nafiu, Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has assured that corps members who recently completed their one-year mandatory service will receive arrears of the newly implemented ₦77,000 monthly allowance.
Speaking at the Batch A 2025 Pre-Mobilisation Workshop held in Abuja on Thursday, April 3, Nafiu confirmed that the payment of the revised allowance commenced in March, following President Bola Tinubu’s approval and implementation of a new minimum wage structure.
“The government is conscious of its promise, and within the budgetary provision, it will handle the arrears. Once funds are released to us, we will pay them,” Nafiu said.
The announcement comes amid growing concerns among past corps members who feared they would be excluded from the new allowance package, despite serving during the transition period. Nafiu, however, gave strong assurances that no eligible corps member would be left out.
“Even those who have completed their service will benefit. Once we receive the necessary funds, we will credit them—we have their bank details. Nigerians should not worry; the government is responsible and responsive to their needs,” he added.
The development follows public outcry over the delay in implementing the allowance increase initially promised as part of broader efforts to cushion the economic hardship faced by Nigerian youth. With the cost of living at an all-time high, many corps members have said the ₦33,000 monthly stipend is barely enough for transportation, feeding, and rent in major cities.
Meanwhile, Mohammed Abubakar, NYSC’s Director of Corps Mobilisation, raised fresh concerns about the integrity of the mobilisation process. He revealed that some institutions continue to upload unqualified graduates onto the NYSC portal, describing the practice as a major challenge that undermines the credibility of the scheme.
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“Despite remarkable progress in recent years, we still face serious issues, particularly the fraudulent uploading of unqualified graduates, which must be tackled,” Abubakar said.
His comments come amid ongoing scrutiny of the NYSC database, with reports indicating that some deployed corps members lack the minimum academic qualifications required by law.
Also addressing participants at the workshop, Ayodele Olawande, Minister of Youth Development, called for urgent reforms to reposition the NYSC in line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He emphasised the need to realign the scheme with the realities of the Nigerian labour market.
“As Nigeria evolves, so must the NYSC. We must bridge the gaps and ensure the scheme adequately prepares graduates for the job market,” the minister said.
The pre-mobilisation workshop brought together top government officials, academic representatives, and NYSC coordinators nationwide to discuss the challenges facing the scheme and chart a new course ahead of the next mobilization cycle.
BUSINESSDAY
