Abuja, Nigeria – The Federal Government has announced plans to settle outstanding ₦77,000 monthly allowance arrears owed to National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members across the country. The Minister of Youth Development, Dr. Jamila Bio-Ibrahim, made the disclosure during a meeting with state coordinators in Abuja on Wednesday.
Key Details of the Announcement
- Payment Timeline: Arrears will be cleared "within the next 30 days"
- Beneficiaries: All corps members deployed between 2023-2024 batches
- Amount Due: Average backlog of 3-5 months per corps member
Minister's Assurance
"We recognize the economic hardships faced by our corps members," stated Dr. Bio-Ibrahim. "President Tinubu has directed immediate payment to alleviate their challenges during this service year."
The minister also revealed plans to review the current allowance structure, hinting at "upward adjustments" to reflect current economic realities.
NYSC's Position
NYSC Director-General Brig. Gen. Yushau Ahmed confirmed preparations for the payment:
- Verification of beneficiary data ongoing
- Collaboration with CBN and commercial banks
- Grievance mechanism for omitted corps members
Background Context
The allowance arrears accumulated due to:
1. Delayed release of 2023 budgetary allocations
2. Administrative bottlenecks in payment systems
3. Increased corps member population (over 350,000 annually)
Corps Members' Reactions
Some batch 2023 members expressed cautious optimism:
"I've waited 7 months for my complete allowance," said Adeola Ogunlesi (Kano State). "This promise must not fail like others."
Up Next
- March 27: Deadline for state coordinators to submit verified payrolls
- April 5: CBN begins bulk disbursements
- April 15: Monitoring team deployment to state secretariats
The minister warned against any diversion of funds, threatening "severe sanctions" for officials implicated in malpractices.