Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has reaffirmed that recently passed-out corps members will not be excluded from the newly approved N77,000 monthly allowance by the Federal Government. His assurance came during the Batch A 2025 Pre-Mobilisation Workshop held in Abuja.
The announcement comes as the Federal Government began disbursing the new minimum wage to current corps members, following nearly eight months after President Bola Tinubu signed the new wage law.
Government Committed to Obligations
Addressing journalists at the workshop, DG Nafiu emphasized the government’s commitment:
“The government is quite conscious of its promise and within the budgetary provision, the government is going to handle that. Once funds are released to us to offset the arrears, we will pay them,” he stated.
He further reassured that even those who have completed their service year will benefit:
“We have their bank details and will credit them as soon as we receive cash backing. Nigerians should not worry—this government is both responsible and responsive,” he added.
Mobilisation Integrity Concerns
Mohammed Abubakar, the Director of Corps Mobilisation, raised alarms over fraudulent activities in the mobilisation process. He pointed out that some tertiary institutions have uploaded names of ineligible individuals.
“We’ve made progress with better collaboration, but issues persist, especially fraudulent enrollments,” he warned. “We must remain alert and act proactively.”
Reforms in NYSC Scheme
Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, also called for necessary reforms in the NYSC scheme, aligning with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“The scheme was established in 1973 for a reason. It must evolve to address today’s demands,” he said. “We need to reform NYSC to better prepare our graduates for the modern job market.”
Olawande urged stakeholders to support reshaping the NYSC into a more inclusive, adaptive, and future-ready national initiative.
Conclusion
The NYSC leadership’s assurance that ex-corps members will receive their arrears demonstrates a continued commitment to the welfare of Nigerian youths. With calls for systemic reforms and improved integrity in mobilisation, the NYSC is poised to enter a more efficient and forward-looking phase.
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Aanchal is a passionate writer with a keen interest in storytelling, content creation, and creative expression. She enjoys exploring diverse topics and crafting engaging narratives that captivate readers.