In September 2024, Nigeria raised its national minimum wage to ₦70,000. To align with it, the NYSC’s monthly allowance for corps members was increased from ₦33,000 to ₦77,000, but the promised bump didn’t materialize for many. By early 2025, only one month’s allowance had been paid to Batch A1 corps members; none of the 2024 Batch C2 batches had received the revised rate or any arrears for the delay.
The government’s delay in effecting the increase in arrear payment sparked widespread frustration. Lagos-based corper “Raye” went viral, airing her grievance about the meagre allowance of 33,000 on social media, which amplified the outcry. Young graduates bemoaned a system that routinely commits and then stalls transforming hopeful expectations into anxious uncertainty.
In February and March 2025, NYSC officials explained the delay as the result of lacking “cash backing” and budgetary approvals. The NYSC spokesperson, Caroline Lembu, pointed to funding constraints, while the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, assured on Channels Television that backlog payments would reach both current and former corps members. Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, NYSC’s Director-General, echoed this, promising arrears once funds were released and affirming that even those who had completed service would benefit. However, specifics on timing remained vague—fueling skepticism.
Finally, in March 2025, the ₦77,000 allowance began disbursing to corps members. Then, in June, the federal government commenced payments of ₦44,000 arrears to ex-corps members—but notably, Batch A1 was expressly exempted from this round of back-payments. Many corps members asked: why the exclusion?
this delay in payment undercuts NYSC’s larger purpose. The exclusion of Batch A1 from arrears rounds raises concerns about equity and transparency—potentially discouraging those about to join from trusting system promises.
NYSC leadership has repeatedly assured arrears will be paid, but the absence of firm timelines and the selective coverage of arrears sow doubt—especially among younger graduates who already view NYSC as a draining, mandatory rite of passage rather than a vehicle for national service and growth. As one student observation summed it up: “If they know they cannot pay the ₦77k, they should’ve just said so… instead of making promises… only to be crushed.”
The current moment is one of partial closure but incomplete redemption: allowances have increased, and arrears are trickling in, but the delays have eroded trust, and spotlighted systemic inefficiencies. For policymakers and NYSC managers, the lesson is clear: timely delivery and clear communication matter as much as the money itself. Without that, even bold policy gains serve more as hollow declarations than meaningful progress.