The Federal Government has started disbursing the new N77,000 monthly allowance to National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, ending months of delays. Corps members across the country received credit alerts on Wednesday, confirming the increased stipend.
The payment follows a promise by the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, who said earlier this week that the allowance would be paid by March’s end. The raise, first announced in September 2023, lifts the stipend from N33,000 to N77,000, aligning with the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024.
However, arrears owed to corps members remain unpaid. A source from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) said the government is still working on settling the backlogs and promised they would be cleared soon.
Olawande explained the delay, noting that President Bola Tinubu approved the increase last year, but budgetary allocations were not ready then. “It was not in the budget when the President announced it,” he said, adding that the necessary adjustments are now complete.
The NYSC Director General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, also assured last week that payments would begin this month. While corps members welcome the new N77,000 allowance, they await the government’s action on the outstanding arrears.
Breaking News: FG Promises to Clear Delayed NYSC Allowance Payments and Backlog
Abuja, March 25, 2025 – The Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to clearing the backlog of the increased National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) monthly allowance, which was raised from N33,000 to N77,000 in September 2024. Despite the announcement made months ago, corps members have yet to receive the new amount, sparking concerns and uncertainty among participants of the scheme.
In a recent interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, assured both serving corps members and those enrolled during the announcement that the government will pay the overdue amounts. “The backlog, we will work on it and make sure it is paid. It may not be immediate, but it will happen,” Olawande stated, addressing the growing frustration over the delay.
The allowance increase, intended to align with the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024, was initially met with enthusiasm by NYSC members. However, implementation has been stalled for months, with the government citing budgetary constraints as the primary reason. Olawande explained, “Before anybody can approve anything, you must have a budgetary allocation for it. It’s a process—seriously a process.” He added that the necessary allocation has now been secured, paving the way for payments to commence.
The minister’s comments echo earlier assurances from NYSC Director General Olakunle Nafiu, who had informed corps members in recent weeks to expect the updated payments starting in March. With the budgetary approval now in place, Olawande emphasized that the government is finalizing the process to ensure the funds reach those entitled to them.
The delay has left many corps members, past and present, eagerly awaiting the implementation of the N77,000 allowance. While the government’s latest statements offer renewed hope, the timeline for disbursement remains unclear, with Olawande cautioning that the process will still require some time.
As the Federal Government works to resolve the issue, NYSC participants across the country are hopeful that the long-awaited increase—and the promised backlog—will soon reflect in their accounts, bringing relief after months of uncertainty.