The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, has assured corps members who recently completed their service that they will receive arrears for the newly approved N77,000 allowance.
Addressing stakeholders at the Batch A 2025 Pre-Mobilisation Workshop in Abuja on Thursday, Nafiu explained that the payment of the revised allowance began in March, eight months after President Bola Tinubu signed the minimum wage law into effect.
“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 stated.
He further assured that corps members who had already completed their service would not be left out of the arrear payment.
“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.
Meanwhile, Mohammed Abubakar, the Director of Corps Mobilisation, raised concerns over fraudulent practices involving the enrolment of unqualified graduates by some tertiary institutions.
“Despite remarkable progress in recent years, we still face serious issues, particularly the fraudulent uploading of unqualified graduates, which must be tackled,” Abubakar said.
In his remarks at the event, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, emphasized the need for reforms in the NYSC to align with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“As Nigeria evolves, so must the NYSC. We must bridge the gaps and ensure the scheme adequately prepares graduates for the job market,” Olawande noted.
