The National Youth Service Corps has said it is not expecting the Federal Government to start paying the N70,000 allowance early promised in October because there are still process to be concluded by the government before payment can commence.
However, they have pleaded with the Corp members to be patient with the government as the payment will commence soon, though not certain of the commencement date.
This comes as some of the corps members said the delayed payment of the approved allowance was causing them hardship.
While announcing the increase in the NYSC allowance last month, the Federal Government said it would officially take effect from July 2024, in line with the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024.
The new allowance was confirmed in a letter from the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission on 25th September 2024, signed by its Chairman, Mr. Ekpo Nta.
Reacting, the NYSC Director of Communication, Carol Embu, urged the corps members to be patient, noting that the Federal Government is working on the payment.
She said, “The scheme does not pay corps members. It’s the Federal Government. And I can’t say for sure when the payment will commence. It’s the decision of the government, not NYSC.
“One cannot expect the payment to start in October because government machinery doesn’t work like that. It took effect from the 29th of July, which is when the arrears will be paid.”
Some of the corps members have expressed their disappointment and frustration recently when they received their allowance credit alert of N33,000 instead of the approved N70,000.
According to Jesutofunmi Ajimuda, “We were expecting the arrears alongside the payment for September but we got the usual N33,000 payment again. It is frustrating.”
