National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called for a probe of the leadership of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) over the non-payment of the approved N77,000 monthly allowance for serving corps members.
NANS expressed shock as NYSC is yet to implement the payment of the new allowance to the corps members months after approval by the Federal Government.
The Federal Government in September 2024had approved an increase in the corps members’ monthly allowance from N33,000 to N77,000.
The Director-General of the NYSC, Brig. Gen. Yushau Ahmed, stated that the new allowance was not implemented due to the non-release of funds.
NANS, in a statement by the National Vice President, Inter-Campus Affairs, Akinbodunse Sileola Felicia, on Monday, said the call for the probe had become crucial following the failure of the NYSC to commence payment of the new corps monthly allowance by the end of February as promised by the Director-General of the Corps.
According to the statement, findings VP’s office revealed that corps members received only N33,000 for their February allowance last Friday, against N77,000 promised by the NYSC DG.
Akinbodunse noted that the FG and many state governments have since begun to pay their workers the new minimum wage of N70,000, adding that the NYSC has no justification to withhold the payment of the new approved allowance to corps members.
She pointed out that it would amount to gross injustice on the part of corps members to still be receiving the old allowance months after approval and implementation by the Federal Government.
While calling on the NYSC to give reasons behind the failure to implement the payment of the N77,000 corps monthly allowance, she insisted that the FG should investigate the matter to determine the cause of the delay.
She added that the failure to pay the new allowance to corps members could dampen their morale, especially in the face of the economic situation in the country.
