NYSC October payments revealed amidst new minimum wage implementation

Corps members across Nigeria have expressed their frustration on social media after receiving their October allowance of ₦33,000, instead of the anticipated ₦77,000 promised by the Federal Government.

The issue has sent the social media abuzz, with many taking to the social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), to vent their anger and disappointment.

The uproar follows the government’s announcement in July of a new minimum wage of ₦70,000, which President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed into law on July 29. In September, it was further announced that National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members would now receive a monthly allowance of ₦77,000, with arrears to be paid for July and August.

In early October, the NYSC’s Public Relations Officer confirmed that the increment had indeed been approved but mentioned that the “arrangement” for payment was not yet finalized. Despite the assurances, expectations were dashed when the October payment of ₦33,000 hit the accounts of corps members.

The reactions online have been intense. Many aggrieved corps members declared that they would boycott Community Development Service (CDS) meetings in protest, citing disappointment over what they called “false hopes” given by the government.

Sources claim that the increment might take effect by 2025, while others remain optimistic that it could be implemented for the next batch of corps members. However, no official statement has been made to confirm these speculations.

Thediscovererng.com reports that this controversy comes after the Federal Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) reached an agreement in June for the new minimum wage of ₦70,000. The announcement initially raised hopes among NYSC members who have been grappling with the nation’s rising cost of living.

As corps members await further clarity on the matter, the sentiment online remains one of dissatisfaction, with many feeling let down by the government’s inconsistent messaging regarding their monthly stipends.