NYSC Assures 2025 Outgone Corps Members of N77,000 Wage Arrears

NYSC Assures 2025 Outgone Corps Members of N77,000 Wage Arrears

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has reassured corps members who recently completed their service that they will receive arrears of the new N77,000 allowance.

Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, the NYSC Director-General, gave this assurance on Thursday during the Batch A 2025 pre-mobilisation workshop in Abuja. The event brought together heads of corps-producing institutions and other stakeholders to discuss the scheme’s operations.

The federal government began paying the new N77,000 allowance last month, eight months after President Bola Tinubu signed the minimum wage bill into law. However, those who had already completed their service were yet to receive their arrears, raising concerns among past corps members.

Speaking to journalists, Nafiu emphasized that the government remains committed to fulfilling its promises. He assured that once funds are released, all outstanding arrears would be credited to beneficiaries. “The government is quite conscious of its promise, and within the budgetary provision, it will handle that. Once funds are released, we will pay them,” he said.

He further explained that NYSC had the bank details of all past corps members and would process payments immediately upon receiving cash backing. “Even those who recently passed out will benefit. Nigerians should not fret about that because the government is both responsible and responsive to their needs,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Director of Corps Mobilisation, Mohammed Abubakar, highlighted ongoing challenges in the scheme, particularly the fraudulent uploading of unqualified graduates by tertiary institutions. He acknowledged progress in addressing the issue but stressed the need for continuous vigilance and proactive measures to prevent abuse.

“We have made remarkable progress in recent years, greatly reducing challenges thanks to innovative approaches and better collaboration. However, we still face serious issues, particularly concerning the fraudulent uploading of unqualified graduates, which we must address,” Abubakar stated.

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He called for increased cooperation among stakeholders to safeguard the credibility of the NYSC mobilisation process. “As we prepare for another batch of NYSC mobilisation, we must confront the pressing issues affecting our corps members. This process is vital for our nation’s growth, but it is fraught with challenges, especially the ongoing problem of dishonest enrollments. We must therefore stay alert and be proactive.”

Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, emphasized the need to reform the NYSC to align with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He noted that the scheme, established in 1973, must evolve to address the needs of modern graduates.

“I remember when the scheme was created in 1973. It was for a purpose. Everything since then has changed. We must therefore reform the scheme to meet our changing society,” Olawande said.

He stressed that the NYSC should be tailored to prepare graduates for the job market. “As Nigeria improves, we must continue to improve the scheme to meet demands. We must address the gaps in how the scheme will prepare our graduates for the job market. Let us reshape the process to meet the demands of the labour market.”

He further stated that reforming the NYSC is a collective responsibility. “Reforming the NYSC mobilisation is not the job of the government alone. It is a collaborative effort. We can build an NYSC that is adaptive, inclusive, and will serve our future generations.”

Additionally, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, assured the NYSC of continued support throughout the service year. Represented by the Mandate Secretary for Youth and Sport, Abdullahi Suleiman, Wike pledged the FCT administration’s commitment to partnering with the scheme.

“The FCT administration will continue to work with the NYSC to achieve its objectives. We recognize the scheme’s importance in national development and remain committed to supporting its activities,” he said.