The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has announced that corps members’ monthly stipends will rise from N33,000 once the federal government enforces the new minimum wage. The minimum wage was recently increased to N70,000 following negotiations between organized labor and the government. The bill to raise the wage, previously set at N30,000, was passed by the national assembly on July 23 and signed into law on July 29.
Yusha’u Ahmed, NYSC Director General, revealed this update while visiting orientation camps in Kebbi and Sokoto for the 2024 Batch ‘B’ stream two corps members. Ahmed highlighted the significant contributions of corps members to Nigeria’s socio-economic development and urged them to utilize their service year for personal and professional growth. He encouraged participation in the NYSC’s skill acquisition and entrepreneurship programs, advising corps members to acquire skills that can lead to job creation rather than job seeking.
Ahmed assured corps members of their safety during their service and emphasized vigilance. NYSC coordinators in Kebbi and Sokoto reported positive adaptation by corps members, with Kebbi registering 1,195 corps members and Sokoto registering 1,488, including displaced individuals from Zamfara due to security concerns.
Ahmed also noted that the NYSC has partnered with several organizations, including the Central Bank of Nigeria and Bank of Industry, to provide loans and grants to corps members, further supporting their development and entrepreneurial efforts.