In a significant move demonstrating its commitment to youth welfare and economic inclusivity, the Federal Government of Nigeria has commenced payment of ₦44,000 as minimum wage arrears to former members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). This development comes as part of the broader implementation of the new minimum wage regime and follows the recent increment of corps members’ monthly allowance from ₦33,000 to ₦77,000.
The Ministry of Youth Development confirmed that the payments began in early June 2025, with thousands of ex-corps members, who concluded their mandatory one-year national service before the new allowance structure took effect, receiving credit alerts.
The payment aligns with the Federal Government’s earlier pledge to ensure that those who served under the previous allowance structure are not left behind. Many of these individuals had expressed concerns about being excluded from the benefit of the revised wage policy, which was officially implemented in January 2025 as part of President Bola Tinubu’s economic reform agenda.
Speaking on the development, a senior official at the NYSC Secretariat, who requested anonymity, stated:
“This is part of our promise to ensure that every Nigerian youth who served their country under the NYSC is given what is due to them. The ₦44,000 payment represents the backlog of the wage differential between the former and current rates.”
Reactions from Beneficiaries Flood Social Media
Former corps members took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express their appreciation. One user, @Kingpin_black1, wrote:
“Thank you NYSC. Thank you President Tinubu. Nigeria will be great again.”
Another user, @pharmacist_shezzy, jubilantly posted:
“44k don land. NYSC no carry last. God bless Nigeria.”
Similarly, @ifeoluwa_X tweeted:
“Just got my alert. I almost deleted my NYSC account. Thank you FG.”
These online reactions underscore a renewed sense of hope among young Nigerians, many of whom had begun to doubt the government’s responsiveness to youth concerns.
The payment of these arrears reflects the Federal Government’s growing emphasis on inclusive economic reform, particularly for the younger population. Analysts say the move is likely to restore faith in national institutions like the NYSC and also stimulate consumer spending among young Nigerians — many of whom are unemployed or underemployed post-service.
President Bola Tinubu’s administration has made youth empowerment a cornerstone of its Renewed Hope Agenda. Recent initiatives — including digital skills training programs, entrepreneurship funding, and youth-targeted tax relief policies — have been rolled out as part of efforts to reduce youth unemployment and harness the demographic dividend.
The upward review of the NYSC allowance from ₦33,000 to ₦77,000 was part of the larger national minimum wage adjustment agreed upon between the Federal Government and labour unions earlier this year. While the broader implementation of the new wage across various sectors continues to face logistical and funding hurdles, the payment to ex-corps members is seen as a strategic win that signals readiness for phased compliance.
This payment, albeit modest in financial value, holds significant symbolic weight. It reaffirms the Tinubu administration’s policy direction and its intent to restore trust in the government’s ability to follow through on promises. For many former corps members, it represents more than a cash transfer — it is a message that their contributions to national development are valued and recognized.
As the government continues its rollout of broader economic reforms — from subsidy removals to infrastructure expansion — targeted gestures like this may serve as building blocks for deeper national cohesion and sustained youth engagement in Nigeria’s development narrative.