The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has reiterated that any potential increase in corps members’ allowances following the new minimum wage is contingent upon the Federal Government’s decision.
In a statement, the NYSC emphasized that no official directive has been received regarding allowance adjustments. The decision ultimately rests with the government body responsible for wage matters.
The management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has clarified that any increase in corps members’ allowances, following the approval of a new minimum wage of N70,000 for workers, will be determined solely by the Federal Government.
Caroline Embu, the acting Director of the Information and Public Relations unit at NYSC, conveyed this information to our correspondent on Tuesday.
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Recalling that President Tinubu signed the new minimum wage bill of N70,000 into law on July 29, 2024, after several weeks of negotiations with organized labor leaders.
In the wake of this approval, rumors began circulating regarding a potential increase in corps members’ allowances. Some even claimed that corps members had been advised to upgrade their bank accounts to accommodate amounts exceeding N50,000. One message alleged:
“Most of the corps members’ accounts opened in the camp cannot take more than N50,000 at once. All corps members are advised to visit their various banks and confirm that their account can take or receive more than N70,000.”
However, the NYSC quickly dismissed these claims as “absolutely false.”
“The attention of the National Youth Service Corps management has been drawn to misleading information circulating in the media regarding the payment of N70,000 minimum wage to corps members and the directive to upgrade their accounts. This is an absolute falsehood which is far from the truth,” read a statement signed by former Director of Information and Public Relations, Eddy Megwa.
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The statement further clarified that no directive had been received from the relevant government bodies responsible for wage matters, making it impossible for the NYSC to issue any information on such a matter.
When asked on Tuesday if the NYSC was in negotiations for a new allowance for corps members, the acting spokesperson reiterated that any review of the allowance is under the jurisdiction of the Federal Government. She emphasized that there is currently no change in corps members’ allowances.
“I don’t know how much the Federal Government will pay the corps members. I cannot tell you that for sure right now because it is a decision of the Federal Government, not the NYSC. The only thing I can tell you now is that when the Federal Government increases the minimum wage, the corps members are expected to enjoy an increase in their allowance too, just like the DG said,” Embu explained.
