Nigeria Raises NYSC Allowance to 77,000 Naira to Alleviate Economic Burden
This adjustment aligns with the implementation of the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act of 2024, which was passed by lawmakers in July. The act mandates that all employers in Nigeria pay their lowest-ranking staff a minimum of 70,000 naira ($43) monthly, a figure agreed upon by President Bola Tinubu and labor unions.
Embu highlighted that the announcement was made following a letter from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, dated September 25, 2024, and signed by Chairman Ekpo Nta. The increase in allowance comes as many Nigerian workers have voiced concerns about the rising cost of living, which has made the previous minimum wage of 30,000 naira (approximately $18) insufficient to meet their basic needs.
Over the last five years, Nigeria’s minimum wage has remained at 30,000 naira, despite being significantly higher at $80 back in 2019 before the naira’s devaluation. The economic challenges faced by many workers prompted the recent changes in wage policy.
The NYSC, which serves as a one-year mandatory national service for university graduates, was established in the 1970s to foster unity among Nigeria’s diverse ethnic communities. Typically, corps members are deployed to areas far from their homes, often serving in schools or hospitals in various regions of the country.
Brigadier General YD Ahmed, the Director General of NYSC, expressed gratitude to the federal government for this welfare package, emphasizing that it would alleviate the hardships faced by corps members. He believes the increase will enhance their morale and encourage them to serve the nation with renewed commitment.
With Nigeria currently experiencing an inflation rate of around 33%, many low-income citizens are struggling to afford basic food items. The recent increase in the NYSC allowance aims to address some of these financial challenges faced by young Nigerians in their year of national service.
