NYSC resumes payment of N77,000 allowance arrears to corps members

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has resumed the payment of arrears to corps members, with the first batch of disbursements made on Wednesday.

This development comes after a two-month suspension, the last payment having been made on June 3.

The arrears are connected to the new ₦77,000 monthly allowance recently approved by the Federal Government — a major upward review aimed at reducing the financial strain on serving youth corps members.

It will be recalled that on April 5, the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, assured corps members that those who had recently completed their service year would also benefit from the new allowance structure.

Speaking during the Batch A 2025 Pre-Mobilisation Workshop in Abuja, Nafiu said, “Once funds are released to us to offset the arrears, we will pay them. Even our corps members who passed out recently will benefit. We have their bank details.”

He emphasised the government’s commitment, adding, “Nigerians should not fret about that because the government is both responsible and responsive to their needs.”

This development was confirmed by this newspaper, by a previously serving corps member who chose to remain anonymous, who said, “After waiting for two months, I didn’t expect to see another payment alert.

“But honestly, it’s not just about the money; it’s about feeling like our efforts actually count.

The payment of arrears, covering the period from July 2024 to March 2025, follows widespread frustration over delayed implementation after the Federal Government approved the allowance increase as part of its commitment to easing economic hardship for Nigerian youth.