Yushau Ahmed, the director-general of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has revealed that the federal government was yet to release the funds to pay corps members the new minimum wage in September as earlier promised.
It was announced on September 24 that the government had increased the monthly allowance of corps members from N33,000 to N77,000 in line with the new minimum wage act.
NYSC had also stated that the approval for the new allowance would take effect from July, raising corps members’ anticipation of the arrears for July and August.
According to Ahmed, however, the government did not provide the funds needed to implement the new policy. Hence corps members were paid old allowances the previous month.
“Not only corps members, but even our staff members’ salaries were increased about four to five months ago, but this has not yet been implemented,” he said during an interview with BBC Hausa on Saturday.
“We are hopeful that the new pay will be implemented soon, though the funds have not yet been released to us.
“The information we have does not specify when the new allowance will be paid, but we have been assured that their monthly allowance has been increased from 29 July 2024.”
THE VIRAL ANNOUNCEMENT
A statement signed by Caroline Embu, NYSC’s acting director of information and public relations, had assured corps members of the commencement of the new pay in September.
Embu wrote:
The Federal Government has approved the increment of Corps Members’ monthly allowance to Seventy-Seven Thousand Naira (N77,000) with effect from July 2024.
This is in line with the enactment of the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024.This was contained in a letter from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, dated 25th September 2024 and signed by the Chairman, Mr Ekpo Nta.
Prior to this, the Director General, NYSC Brigadier General YD Ahmed, had paid an advocacy visit to the Chairman in which he solicited for a robust welfare package for Corps Members.
The NYSC Boss is thankful to the Federal Government for the timely gesture and is optimistic that it will not only bring the 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.
Before this increment, the monthly allowance for Corps Members was Thirty-Three Thousand Naira (N33,000).
As many Nigerians battle the declining purchasing power crisis, corps members are not excluded.
FIJ earlier reported how corps members resorted to high-interest loans offers from loan sharks in order to settle some of their basic bills.
THIS STORY FIRST APPEARED IN FIJ
