The Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, says the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members will earn the new minimum wage of N30,000 as allowance.The minister, who spoke to news men yesterday, Thursday in Abuja, said that the ministry has verified N649.434 billion as the outstanding balance to be refunded to state governments.
“NYSC allowance also has to increase to N30,000. So, I cannot give you projections right now because the negotiations are not yet concluded.
“Apart from the increase of the minimum wage from N18,000 to N30,000, there is also a consequential adjustment that we have to negotiate with the labour unions.
“The other aspect that should be cleared is that there is an increase for the NYSC as well because NYSC, by its Act, is designed that they earn the minimum wage.”
On April 25, the NYSC former Director-General, Suleiman Kazaure, debunked a rumour that government had raised corps members’ monthly stipend to N31,800.
The one-year compulsory scheme was established in 1973 by former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, after the Nigerian civil war in 1973 in a bid to reconstruct, reconcile and rebuild the country.
It was designed for young graduates within the country and in the Diaspora, between the ages of 18 and 30 for national service.
The administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 increased the stipend from N7,500 to N19,800.
Source: The Nation.
