KEY POINTS
- The Nigerian government has increased the NYSC monthly allowance from ₦33,000 to ₦77,000.
- The increment aims to support youth corps members amid rising living costs.
- This change reflects the government’s commitment to youth empowerment and welfare.
This year, the Nigerian government increased the monthly allowance for members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) from ₦33,000 to ₦77,000. The new allowance is more than the previous one and is expected to help youth corps members as they contribute to their nation.
The implementation of the decision has been applauded by current and future corps members who have been calling for an increment of the stipends because of inflationary trend in Nigeria.
The increment is however part of the federal government’s master plan to support the youths of Nigeria and to reduce the financial stress that some of the youths who are in the compulsory national youth service scheme are subjected to.
The problem of financial challenges becomes worse especially in this period among the youth corps members because the majority of them hardly earn enough to meet their needs, especially in states that require a high standard of living.
To this end, the new ₦77,000 allowance aims at doing the needful to counteract these challenges and offer better incentives in their line of duty throughout their service.
Raising the welfare standard during an economic crisis
The release of the new prices is however at a time when Nigeria is facing some economic challenges such as inflation and the general increase in the cost of living. In other words, any time the government increases the NYSC allowance, it demonstrates its ability to back up the corps members both financially as they discharge their national responsibilities.
Tribune Online also revealed that the federal government has considered the allowance hike as one of its major strategies towards empowering the youth.
While some have applauded the move, saying it can lead to as it may result to increase the morale of the corps members. Over the years, the NYSC has remained an important program that connects graduates’ academic and working experiences, while the allowance has remained relatively low.
This increase is expected to help to reduce the financial burdens of the participants and to increase their participation in the projects assigned to their respective community developments.
The process towards empowering youths
NYSC is a program established in 1973 to ensure that the prospective corps mobilize and manifest willingness to participate in the development of the nation. With this increase, the government is not only subsidizing but also valuing the role of youths in the development of Nigeria.
The increment is a step in the right direction as far as some of the socio-economic challenges that the youth, which is key to the future of the nation is concerned.
Though most people have applauded this move, some have urged the government to take further steps to boost the welfare of the corps members.
Some of the recommendations include; the provision of better living standards in orientation camps and employment opportunities upon completion of the service year. But this salary increase is a good sign of light to the Nigerian youths it is rather a step backwards.
While the members of NYSC are already poised to benefit from this allowance increment, one will not expect the government agenda in youth empowerment to relent but move forward to pro-VRH more changes in the program. As the youths of the nation are better supported, then the future is bright for further development and growth for the entire country.
