Corps Members Disappointed as NYSC Pays N33,000 in February

By Emmanuel Kwada

National Youth Service Corps members across Nigeria are frustrated after receiving their usual N33,000 allowance for February. 

This comes despite repeated assurances from NYSC Director General, Brigadier General Yushau Ahmed, that payments would increase to N77,000 starting in February 2025.

NYSC DG, Brig. Gen. Yushau Ahmed.

The unfulfilled promise, tied to the Federal Government’s new minimum wage approval, has sparked widespread discontent. Many corps members had anticipated financial relief amid rising living costs.

On January 30, 2025, while addressing 2024 Batch ‘C’ Stream II corps members in Katsina, Brigadier General Ahmed announced that the long-awaited increment would commence in February.

Once the budget is passed, by next month (February), you will start receiving N77,000 instead of the usual N33,000

He assured that once the 2025 Federal Government budget was passed, payments would increase.

“This month (January) has already ended, but once the budget is passed, by next month (February), you will start receiving N77,000 instead of the usual N33,000,” he had stated confidently.

He urged corps members to show appreciation through dedication to their service. He emphasized that the increment was a done deal, approved by the government, and included in the budget.

As February payments rolled out, corps members reported receiving N33,000 with no sign of the promised increase. The delay has reignited debates about the reliability of government promises. Many corps members struggle to survive in an economy where inflation is at 33%, and food and transportation costs keep rising.

I was counting on it to cover transportation and send something home to my family

“I planned my entire month around the N77,000 we were promised,” said Daniel Bitrus, a corps member in Abuja.

“I was counting on it to cover transportation and send something home to my family. Now, I’m back to square one, cutting corners just to survive. This is beyond disappointing—it feels like we’ve been misled,” he added.

The frustration followed delays that began in September 2024, when the Federal Government first announced the increase from N33,000 to N77,000. 

The new wage was meant to take effect in July 2024, under the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act. However, corps members continued receiving N33,000, with NYSC officials blaming budgetary and administrative bottlenecks.

Brigadier General Ahmed acknowledged these challenges in October 2024, during an interview with BBC Hausa. He admitted that funds for the increment had not yet been released by the government.

The latest shortfall has drawn sharp criticism from corps members and observers. On X (formerly Twitter), sentiments range from disbelief to outrage.

One user posted, alongside a screenshot of his bank alert:

A corps member’s screenshot of the February allowance. Credit: X

“NYSC successfully paid ₦33k to corps members for February 2025, contrary to ₦77k claims by DG. People are lamenting the hard labor conditions after the DG went on media in January to promise otherwise,” the anonymous user wrote.

Another wrote: “By now, the NYSC DG shouldn’t be proud of himself. Tell me why he had to insist that 77k would be paid henceforth, yet corps members are still getting the usual 33k.”

The delay may be linked to slow budget implementation

Hamadu, an accountant and financial analyst, suggested the delay may be linked to slow budget implementation.

“Although President Bola Tinubu signed the 2025 budget into law in January, the disbursement of funds to agencies like the NYSC is often delayed due to bureaucratic processes,” he said.

However, the lack of communication from NYSC leadership following the February payments has deepened the sense of abandonment felt by corps members.

For many, the N33,000 allowance—unchanged since 2020—is no longer enough.

It’s starting to feel like empty promises

“Transportation alone takes up half of it,” said Ibrahim Sani, a corps member in Karu, Nasarawa State.

“With fuel prices and food costs rising daily, N33,000 doesn’t even last a week. We were hopeful the N77,000 would give us some breathing room, but it’s starting to feel like empty promises,” he said.

The NYSC has yet to issue an official statement on the February payments or clarify when the N77,000 allowance will take effect. Officials previously urged patience, assuring corps members that arrears dating back to July 2024 would be paid once funds are released.

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