By Okeke Eunice
The Federal Government has authorized the raise of corps members’ monthly allowance to N77,000, starting from July 2024.
In a statement released on Wednesday by Caroline Embu, the Acting Director of Information and Public Relations for NYSC, it was revealed that the approval came through a letter from the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission. The letter, dated September 25, 2024, was signed by the Chairman, Mr. Ekpo Nta, and aligned with the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act of 2024.
Prior to the recent increase, corps members received a monthly allowance of N33,000, which was implemented after the minimum wage was raised to N30,000 in 2019.
Honorable Fm reports that President Bola Tinubu signed the new Minimum Wage Bill into law on July 29, 2024.
The law set N70,000 as the minimum wage amount.
After the new minimum wage was approved, there were speculations about a potential increase in corps members’ pay. However, the NYSC management maintained that any raise in their allowance could only be decided by the Federal Government.
In her statement, Embu mentioned that the Director General of the NYSC, Brigadier-General Yusha’u Ahmed, had made an advocacy visit to the Chairman, during which he requested a comprehensive welfare package for corps members.
The DG expressed gratitude to the government for the gesture, emphasizing that it would not only provide relief to the corps members but also motivate them to contribute more in their service to the nation.
The statement says, “The Federal Government has authorized an increase in corps members’ monthly allowance to N77,000, effective from July 2024.”
“This aligns with the implementation of the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024. This information was included in a letter from the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission, dated September 25, 2024, and signed by the Chairman, Mr. Ekpo Nta.”
“Previously, the Director General of the NYSC, Brigadier General YD Ahmed, had conducted an advocacy visit to the Chairman, during which he requested a comprehensive welfare package for corps members.”
“The NYSC leader expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for this timely gesture and is hopeful that it will not only provide essential relief to the corps members but also enhance their morale and encourage them to contribute even more in their service to the nation.”