The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has resumed the payment of arrears. This is the first payment since the very last payment that was made on June 3, just over two months ago. This will be a huge relief to the many corps members that had become increasingly frustrated about the long pause in their payment.
NYSC Arrears Payment Issue
The NYSC arrears payment are actually due in view of the newly approved ₦77,000 monthly allowance that was recently introduced by the Federal Government to help with the increased cost of living for youth serving in the NYSC programme, and cover service dates from July 2024 to March 2025 for both serving corps members and recent graduates of the NYSC.
In May, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, the NYSC Director-General, reassured corps members and other stakeholders at the Batch A 2025 Pre-Mobilisation Workshop in Abuja, that once funds flowed to the NYSC, the arrears would be paid out, and that ex-corps members would get paid too, since their bank details were already on file to make it easier for processing.
Response from some of the beneficiaries that reported being paid captures the feeling of relief and recognition that were associated with payments being made. One ex-corps member shared, the shock of getting the alert was not simply about money, but about feeling that their service and their efforts had been recognized.
The reintroduction of payments being processed, arrives following increased frustration towards the delayed implementation of the allowance increase. The ₦77,000 figure had been announced months ago, and the processes leading to the disbursement, funding challenges and administrative processes delayed payment. The recent payment continues to draw down on some of that frustration.
However, there has been scrutiny around the process. There were questions around the treatment for those who served in the transitional period when the government approved the allowance but had not yet processed payment. There had been many voices calling for clarity around any further back payments, and while the payment covered service dates from July 2024 to March 2025, transparency will be essential.
Conclusion
For now, the resumed payment of the arrears payments is a clear indication of follow-through. While it does not answer all of the queries, it is evidence of the government renewed commitment to its youth, and corps members’ service to Nigeria.