The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has resumed payment of arrears to corps members, with the first disbursement taking place on Wednesday.
This marks the first payment since June 3, following a two-month suspension.
The arrears are tied to the recently approved ₦77,000 monthly allowance, a significant upward review by the Federal Government aimed at easing the financial burden 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.
(Punch)