The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is facing potential unrest as corps members across Nigeria are reportedly planning a massive protest, demanding an increase in their monthly allowance to ₦77,000. This development follows the recent announcement by President Bola Tinubu, who signed the new minimum wage bill into law, raising the national minimum wage to ₦70,000.
Despite the wage increase, NYSC management has clarified that there has been no directive from the relevant government sector to raise the corps members’ stipends, which currently stand at ₦33,000. The NYSC management, led by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Eddy Megwa, has warned against the spread of misinformation, urging corps members and the public to rely only on official communication channels.
However, the clarification has not quelled the rising discontent among corps members, who argue that the current allowance is insufficient given the escalating cost of living in the country. With inflation hitting 34 percent in June 2024, many corps members are struggling to make ends meet, particularly after the recent fuel subsidy removal and the naira’s devaluation.
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In response to these economic pressures, the corps members are calling for an allowance of ₦77,000, insisting that anything less would be unacceptable. The planned protest is seen as a direct challenge to the government’s handling of the situation, with corps members determined to push for what they consider a fair and livable wage.
