FG Begins Payment of Arrears to Ex-NYSC Members
The Federal Government of Nigeria has commenced the disbursement of ₦44,000 in minimum wage arrears to former members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). This payment targets corps members who completed their service before the implementation of the revised ₦77,000 monthly allowance, which began in March 2025. The arrears represent the difference between the previous ₦33,000 allowance and the new rate, backdated from July 2024 to February 2025.
The adjustment follows the enactment of the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024, which increased the national minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000. In alignment with this, the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission approved the increment of the NYSC monthly allowance to ₦77,000, effective July 2024. However, due to budgetary constraints and administrative processes, the actual payment of the increased allowance commenced in March 2025, leading to the accumulation of arrears for corps members who served during the interim period.
The Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, assured that the government remains committed to fulfilling its financial obligations to corps members. He emphasized that even those who have recently completed their service year will not be excluded from receiving the arrears. Nafiu stated, “Once funds are released to us to offset the arrears, we will pay them. Even our corps members who passed out recently will benefit. Once we receive cash backing for the arrears, we are going to credit them; we have their bank details.”
The disbursement has been met with positive reactions from former corps members, many of whom have taken to social media platforms to confirm receipt of the payments. Users expressed gratitude and relief, with one stating, “Thank you NYSC. Thank you President Tinubu. Nigeria will be great again.” Another shared, “44k don land. NYSC no carry last. God bless Nigeria.”
In the 2025 fiscal year, the Federal Government allocated ₦29.54 billion to the NYSC for various provisions, including kits, transportation, and feeding for corps members. This allocation is part of the miscellaneous expenditure under the Federal Ministry of Youth Development. The government has also unveiled plans to introduce specialized service arms within the NYSC, targeting the education and healthcare sectors, to deploy corps members to underserved rural communities.
This development underscores the government’s commitment to improving the welfare of its youth and ensuring that financial obligations to corps members are met promptly.