- Observers urge phased reforms to preserve national unity objectives while modernizing NYSC’s operations.
- NYSC payment delays exposed weaknesses in budget planning, with corps members waiting six months for approved allowance implementation.
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), established in 1973, was created to promote national unity and encourage youth participation in public service.
Over five decades later, it continues to deploy thousands of university, polytechnic, and college graduates across Nigeria annually for a one-year stint encompassing orientation, primary assignments, and community development.
However, recent developments—including financial enhancements and public criticisms—have focused renewed attention on whether the NYSC remains fit for contemporary needs.
ALLOWANCE INCREASE TO ₦77,000
On September 25, 2024, the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission approved a salary increment for NYSC corps members—raising the monthly allowance from ₦33,000 to ₦77,000, aligning with the new national minimum wage of ₦70,000 plus a 10% margin .
The move followed legislative passage and President Bola Tinubu’s signature of the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024, which increased the base wage and reduced future review intervals from five to three years .
DELAY AND ARREARS
Despite the approval, implementation lagged. For months—into early 2025—many corps members continued receiving ₦33,000, citing budgetary delays. NYSC Director-General Brig. Gen. Yushau Ahmed explained that the federal government had not released funds promptly .
This sparked dissatisfaction among corps members, some of whom lamented through social media and at passing-out parades .
The delay ended in March 2025, when payments of ₦77,000 commenced, covering allowances from that month forward.
Authorities also began disbursing arrears covering the period from July 2024 to February 2025 . As of June 2025, the government confirmed the beginning of back-payments to former corps members .
This cycle—approval, delay, payment, arrears—is now playing out amidst broader scrutiny over NYSC’s efficacy and structure.
REASONS FOR OVERHAUL
While the allowance increase and arrears settlement offer temporary relief, critics argue that deeper systemic reforms are overdue. Key areas identified include:
1. Financial Planning & Management
The six-month lag between approval and payment exposed gaps in budgeting and administrative coordination. Officials cited initial non-incorporation of the hike into the 2025 federal budget, prompting revised allocations only later .
2. Corps Member Welfare
Beyond financial stipends, corps members have consistently raised concerns about camp conditions, personal safety, posting quality, and professional development. These persisted even as allowances increased, questioning the depth of the improvement .
3. Program Relevance
Originally aimed at national integration post-Civil War, NYSC’s uniform one-year service model may not reflect Nigeria’s current socio-economic dynamics. Calls for optional service, restructured roles, or replacing NYSC with modern national service/volunteer programmes have emerged from analysts and past participants .
4. Professional Focus and Skills Matching
The 2025 budget proposes specialized service arms—particularly in education and healthcare—to fill gaps in underserved areas . This suggests momentum toward harnessing corps members’ skills more effectively than the traditional “one-size-fits-all” model.
5. Stakeholder Engagement and Accountability
Periodic reform committees have been convened. For example, in May 2025, a committee including government, civil society, and private sector actors was inaugurated to reevaluate NYSC’s relevance, safety protocols, and infrastructure .
WEIGHING OVERHAUL OPTIONS
Reform proponents advocate several potential pathways:
Modernizing orientation and civic training, moving beyond military-style drill to emphasize leadership, entrepreneurship, digital literacy, and ethical governance.
Deploying skills-based service, allowing corps members to contribute in sectors aligned with their academic training, increasing job readiness.
Regionalizing the program, tailoring community development efforts to local priorities rather than distant postings.
Strengthening camp standards, ensuring security, hygienic living conditions, and adequate facilities across all regions.
Formalizing specialized corps streams, especially for Nigeria’s rural education and healthcare needs, with structured support and accountability.
Opponents caution against abrupt termination without phased alternatives. NYSC’s historical role in promoting unity and national cohesion—while imperfect—remains cited in favor of preserving core elements.
PRESIDENT TINUBU’S ROLE
President Tinubu’s administration bears dual responsibility. By enacting the minimum wage increase and signing the amendment, the president facilitated a major boost to corps member welfare
However, budgeting delays and the subsequent six-month disbursement gap prompted criticism from youth groups and observers.
In May 2025, further signals emerged that the federal government, through NYSC’s oversight bodies, supports systemic reform.
The inauguration of a reform committee and allocation of greater budgetary resources signal intent. But whether these translate into tangible, long-term structural changes remains a major question for stakeholders.
The NYSC’s recent allowance adjustment and arrears clearance mark progress—but also underscore systemic weaknesses in planning, funding, and program design.
As Nigeria grapples with evolving social and economic imperatives, the NYSC’s founding model faces increasing scrutiny.
A comprehensive overhaul—one that addresses welfare, professional alignment, civic education, and program relevance—may be the next logical step.
The reform committee, governmental backing, and financial investments may signal the beginning of transition.
Ultimately, the challenge is whether these efforts yield a revitalized NYSC fit for the 21st century—or whether deeper structural alternatives are needed.
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