The Federal Government has assured members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) that the backlog of their newly approved N77,000 monthly allowance will be paid, despite months of delay.
The government also dismissed reports of any disciplinary action against a Corps member, Ushie Uguamaye, who criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on social media recently.
Minister of Youth Development Ayodele Olawande reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fulfilling its promise to Corps members.Olawande spoke on a national television programme monitored in Lagos.
“The backlog, we will work on it and make sure it is paid. It may not be immediate, but it will happen. You saw the new DG saying that you will get it, and they’re asking him a question ‘What are those that are going out now, are they going to receive it (backlog)?’ He said we have your details,” Olawande declared.
The government in September last year announced an upward review of Corps members’ allowance from N33,000 to N77,000 , aligning with the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024.
However, six months after the announcement, Corps members are yet to receive the new pay.
Director General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, last week assured Corps members that payments would begin this month.
Olawande corroborated this, emphasising that administrative and budgetary processes were responsible for the delay.
“I’ve explained this several times. Some people say I always say, ‘It is a process.’ But it’s seriously a process. It was not in the budget when the president announced it, and for some agencies and parastatals, you need your salary to be in the budget before it is paid,” Olawande explained.
According to the minister, necessary approvals have now been secured: “The budgetary allocation has been done. We are done with the process, it has been approved, it has been signed, and now they can start paying it,” he assured.
On Uguamaye, Olawande dismissed reports that she is facing disciplinary action or being threatened over her comments.
“The girl (Uguamaye) has not been threatened. No panel has been set up against her, and she will not be facing any disciplinary process,” Olawande confirmed.
He emphasised that young people, and indeed all Nigerians, have the right to freedom of speech, stating that he himself is a product of such freedoms.
The Minister also pointed out that President Tinubu has been subject to various criticisms, and Uguamaye’s case is not an isolated one.
He reiterated that citizens should not be afraid to express their concerns if they are uncomfortable with any situation in the country.
“If an individual is not comfortable with something and feels that something is happening, they should not be afraid to come out and talk.” Olawande affirmed
The Nation
