The federal government’s promise to increase the allowance for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members from ₦33,000 to ₦77,000 remains unfulfilled, seven months after the announcement. Despite reaffirming in January 2025 that payments would begin in February, corps members are still waiting.
The delay has left many corps members frustrated and feeling deceived. They had structured their service year around the expectation of the new allowance, only to be met with bureaucratic excuses about “paucity of funds” and a lack of transparency.
Corps members have expressed their disappointment, saying they feel abandoned by the government. “The government made a promise they had no intention of keeping. Every month, we waited, but nothing happened,” said Akuh Benjamin, who completed his service in February 2025.
The NYSC program was created to foster national unity, but for many corps members today, it feels like a burden with no reward. Discussions about its relevance are growing, with some questioning whether the scheme still serves its purpose.
