The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has refuted recent claims circulating in the media regarding the payment of a ₦70,000 minimum wage to corps members.
In a statement signed by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Eddy Megwa, the NYSC clarified that no official directive has been received from the relevant government authorities to increase the allowance for corps members.
Megwa urged corps members, parents, and the public to rely only on information communicated through the approved channels of the scheme. He emphasized the importance of disregarding misleading information designed to deceive and misinform Nigerians.
The NYSC also warned corps members against falling prey to mischief makers who seek to exploit the situation.
In 2020, the NYSC increased the monthly allowance for corps members from ₦19,800 to ₦33,000 following the signing of the new ₦30,000 minimum wage bill.
Recently, President Bola Tinubu signed a new minimum wage bill into law, raising the national minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000. The decision came after months of negotiations between the government, labor unions, and the private sector, particularly in response to the rising cost of living following the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira.
President Tinubu’s move to sign the bill into law was praised as a fulfillment of his campaign promise to ensure a living wage for Nigerian workers. The new wage will be reviewed every three years to adjust to economic realities.
As inflation in Nigeria continues to rise, with a reported 34% in June 2024 according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the implementation of the new minimum wage aims to alleviate the economic pressures faced by workers across the country. However, as of now, no formal decision has been made regarding an increase in corps members’ allowances.
