The Tinubu-led Nigerian government has once again come under fire for failing to fulfill its promise of increasing the monthly allowance of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members to N77,000, despite repeated assurances from officials.
Sahara Reporters announced the development via its official X handle, revealing that corps members who received their February stipends were dismayed to find that their allowance remained at N33,000—less than half of the new figure that was supposedly approved.
The disappointment contradicts the public assurance given in January by NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Yushau Ahmed, who had confidently declared that the pay raise was finalized and only awaiting the passage of the 2025 budget.
> “The Federal Government has already approved the increment of your allowance. It is no longer news; we have the approval in our hands. What we are waiting for is just the passage of the budget,” Ahmed had told corps members in Katsina State, emphasizing that by February, they would start receiving N77,000.
However, February has come and gone, and corps members are still being paid the old N33,000 stipend, leaving them frustrated and disillusioned. The government has yet to provide any official explanation for the delay, further fueling anger among the youth who are already struggling under the weight of Nigeria’s worsening economic crisis.
With inflation at an all-time high and the cost of living skyrocketing, corps members are finding it nearly impossible to survive on the meager allowance. Basic necessities such as food, transportation, and rent have become unaffordable, leaving many stranded in their places of service.
A corps member serving in Oyo State expressed his frustration, saying:
> “How do they expect us to survive on ₦33,000 when everything is expensive? They told us we would get ₦77,000 this month, and now they have failed again. This government keeps making promises but never delivers.”
Another corps member in Kano described the delay as yet another example of the government’s disregard for young Nigerians.
“We are serving our country, yet we cannot even afford decent meals. The government knows that ₦33,000 is not enough, but they don’t care. They keep making empty promises while we suffer.”
The government’s failure to implement the long-awaited allowance increase has further deepened public distrust in President Tinubu’s administration, which has faced widespread criticism over its economic policies. Many Nigerians believe the administration has worsened inflation, unemployment, and poverty through its handling of the economy.
As corps members continue to bear the brunt of broken promises, questions remain: When will the Tinubu government finally fulfill its pledge? Or is this yet another case of political deception at the expense of Nigeria’s youth?
PIONEER NEWS 