By Ibrahim Ahmadu
There was jubilation across the country on Wednesday, especially among graduates observing the mandatory one year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme.
The Federal Government increased their monthly allowance from N33,000 to N77,000 effective from July 2024.
The increase, which is N7,000 above the new national minimum wage, was announced in a letter from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), dated September 25, 2024, and signed by the commission’s chairman, Mr. Ekpo Nta.
According to a statement by the Acting Director of Information and Public Relations of NYSC, Caroline Embu, the increment is in line with the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024, which sets the minimum wage at N70,000.
The statement also highlighted the efforts of Brigadier General YD Ahmed, Director General of NYSC, who had previously advocated for better welfare packages for corps members during an official visit to the commission’s chairman.
“The NYSC boss is thankful to the Federal Government for the timely gesture and is optimistic that it will not only bring much-needed succour to the Corps Members but also boost their morale and motivate them to do even more in their service to the nation,” the statement read.