The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has clarified that any potential increase in corps members' allowances, following the approval of the new minimum wage of N70,000, will be determined by the Federal Government, not the NYSC.
Caroline Embu, acting Director of the NYSC Information and Public Relations unit, addressed speculations about the corps members’ pay in a statement to our correspondent on Tuesday. President Bola Tinubu signed the new minimum wage bill of N70,000 into law on July 29, 2024, after extensive negotiations with organized labor.
In the wake of the minimum wage increase, rumors circulated suggesting that corps members should upgrade their bank accounts to accommodate a higher payment, with some messages claiming that corps members might receive more than N50,000. The NYSC has dismissed these claims as “absolutely falsehood.”
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NYSC Clarifies Corps Members’ Allowance Amid Minimum Wage Increase
A statement from the NYSC, previously signed by Eddy Megwa, former Director of Information and Public Relations, read: “The attention of 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.”
Embu reiterated that the NYSC has not received any directives from the relevant government sectors responsible for wage matters regarding an increase in corps members' allowances. The NYSC, therefore, cannot provide information on changes to the allowance until such directives are issued.
When asked about ongoing negotiations for a potential increase in pay, Embu confirmed that any review of corps members' allowances is under the purview of the Federal Government. She added, “I don’t know how much the Federal Government will pay the corps members. 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, corps members are expected to enjoy an increase in their allowance too, just like the DG said.”
