The Nigerian National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), a program designed to foster national unity and development by deploying graduates to serve in various capacities across the country, has found itself embroiled in controversy over the delayed implementation of a promised allowance increase. Corps members, who dedicate a year of their lives to national service, were assured of a significant boost to their monthly stipend, raising it from N33,000 to N77,000. This increase, initially slated for July 2024, was met with widespread anticipation, promising much-needed relief in the face of rising living costs. However, the promised implementation date came and went without the expected disbursement, leaving corps members frustrated and disillusioned.
The NYSC management, under the leadership of Brig. Gen. Yushau Ahmed, attributed the initial delay to the non-release of funds by the Federal Government. This explanation, while seemingly plausible, did little to assuage the growing discontent among corps members struggling to make ends meet on the meager N33,000 allowance. A revised timeline was subsequently announced, pushing the implementation date to February 2025. This announcement, though welcomed with cautious optimism, ultimately proved to be another false dawn. February 2025 arrived, and with it, another wave of disappointment as corps members across the country received their usual N33,000 stipend.
The situation has sparked widespread outcry among corps members, who have expressed their frustration at the Federal Government’s perceived insincerity. The inadequate allowance forces many to grapple with significant financial hardships, particularly in the face of rising inflation and the cost of living. Many corps members are posted to locations far from their homes, requiring them to bear the brunt of accommodation expenses, transportation costs, and feeding, all on a paltry N33,000 monthly allowance. This financial strain often necessitates seeking financial assistance from families, adding another layer of burden to an already challenging experience.
Several corps members, speaking under the condition of anonymity due to restrictions on interacting with the media, painted a bleak picture of their financial struggles. One corps member serving in Abia State lamented the insufficiency of the N33,000 allowance, highlighting the challenges of securing affordable accommodation, meeting basic feeding needs, and covering transportation costs. Another corps member serving in Osun State echoed these sentiments, detailing how her monthly expenses consistently exceeded N70,000, with transportation alone costing over N12,000. These testimonies underscore the stark reality faced by many corps members, forced to navigate the complexities of daily living with severely limited resources.
The situation is further compounded by the often-meager stipends provided by Place of Primary Assignment (PPA) – the organizations where corps members are deployed to serve. Some PPAs offer as little as N4,000 as a monthly stipend, a negligible amount that barely scratches the surface of the financial demands faced by corps members. This leaves many struggling to reconcile their meager income with the escalating costs of living, forcing them to make difficult choices and compromises that impact their overall well-being. The prevailing sentiment among corps members is one of disillusionment and betrayal, feeling let down by the government’s unfulfilled promises and the apparent disregard for their welfare.
Despite repeated attempts to seek clarification from the NYSC management, official responses have been elusive. The Director of Communication, Carol Embu, remained unavailable for comment, neither answering calls nor responding to text messages. However, an anonymous senior official within the NYSC confirmed that the implementation of the N77,000 allowance was yet to commence, offering no further explanation for the continued delay. This lack of transparency only fuels the growing frustration and uncertainty among corps members, who are left wondering when, or if, the promised increase will ever materialize. The situation highlights the precarious position of corps members, caught between the expectation of national service and the harsh realities of economic hardship.
