Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, has assured that members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, will be paid a backlog of the new N77,000 monthly allowance.
In September 2024, President Bola Tinubu had increased corps members’ allowance from N33,000 to N77,000.
But months after the president’s pronouncements, the corps members have yet to receive the new allowance, leading to backlash against the government.
However, speaking during an interview with Channels TV on Monday, Mr Olawande assured that serving corps members and those in the scheme when the increment was announced will receive a backdated payment.
“You saw the new DG saying that you will get it, and they’re asking him a question: ‘What about those that are going out now, are they going to receive it [backlog]?’ He said ‘We have your details’,” the minister said.
“The backlog, we will work on it and make sure it is paid. It may not be immediate, but it will happen,” Mr Olawande assured.
When asked if the corps member would begin to receive their new payment this month, the minister said: “It will happen”.
According to the minister, the delay in the implementation of the new NYSC members’ allowance is due to budgetary issues.
He said: “I’ve explained this several times. Some people said, I always say, “It is a process. It is a process.’ But it’s seriously a process.
“It’s a government line. You cannot do a corner piece to do it. It was not in the budget when the president announced it, and for some agencies and parastatals, you need your salary to be in the budget before it is paid.
“Before anybody can approve anything, you must have a budgetary allocation for it. But the budgetary allocation has been done now.
“We are done with the process, and it has been approved. It has been signed, and now they can start paying it.”
