Long walk to corps members’ joy as FG begins new ‘allawee’ payment

Over six months after the approval of a new monthly allowance of N77,000 for members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the Federal Government has commenced the payment.

Although some corps members have confirmed receipt of the new allowance, many across the country are yet to receive.

Before the commencement of the payment, many serving corps members had cried out that the N33,000 they hitherto received was grossly inadequate to meet their needs given the economic realities on ground.

Some of them had even gone public through the social media to air their frustration.

One hot afternoon in Lagos, Chukwudi Okoro, an NYSC member, clutched his phone as he nervously scrolled through job listings. His monthly allowance of ₦33,000 barely covers his transportation, let alone food and rent.

Read also: FG assures NYSC members payment of backlog of N77k allowance

Like thousands of youth corps members across the country, Okoro is trapped in a daily battle against hunger, stress, and despair.

In September 2024, the Federal Government had approved an increase in the NYSC minimum wage allowance from ₦33,000 to ₦77,000, a supposed effort to alleviate the harsh economic realities that have hit Nigerians hard.

The announcement was welcomed with relief and hope by corps members like Chukwudi, who believed that help was finally on the way. But the reality has been a painful contradiction.

Weeks have turned into months, and the promised increment remains unimplemented due to unresolved funding issues. The NYSC leadership maintained that they were waiting the necessary cash backing to implement the new allowance, but for the youth corps members, this assurance rang hollow as they continued to struggle to make ends meet.

“I wake up every day feeling drained. How am I supposed to focus on my duties when I’m constantly worrying about how to survive?” Chukwudi lamented.

According to him, “If the government cannot keep a simple promise, what’s the hope for us?”

The cost of living has skyrocketed, with food prices, transport fares, and housing costs rising beyond the reach of ordinary Nigerians. Yet, for youth corps members, their allowance remains frozen in time, inadequate and disconnected from the present economic realities.

For Amina Yusuf, another corps member serving in Abuja, the situation is equally dire. “When they announced the increment, I was so happy. I thought, at least now, I can afford to eat decently and save something small. But here we are, months later, still receiving the same ₦33,000. It’s disheartening,” she said.

Read also: Lagos NYSC Corper raises threats alarm after viral criticism of government

One of the most shocking incidents highlighting the plight of corps members was the recent case of Ushie Rita Uguamaye, also known as Raye. Her TikTok video criticising the current administration for failing to address the economic crisis went viral, drawing attention to the severe hardship NYSC members were facing. In the video, she questioned the government’s efforts to alleviate the struggles of ordinary Nigerians.

In response to her bold criticism, NYSC officials summoned her to appear before the Eti Osa 3 Local Government Office in Lagos. Officials reportedly pressured her to delete the video, labeling her comments as inappropriate. The incident sparked nationwide debates over free speech, governance, and the growing frustration among youth corps members.

Experts argued that the government’s delay in fulfilling its promise reflected a larger issue of governance and accountability.

According to financial analyst Kemi Adekunle, “This is not just about the money, it’s about trust. When the government makes a promise and fails to deliver, it erodes the faith citizens have in the system.”

The stories of Chukwudi, Amina, and Raye are just a few of the thousands of voices crying out for attention. The silence from the authorities only deepens the feeling of neglect among those who should be the backbone of the nation’s future.

But with the good news that the padded “allawee” has started to hit the accounts of corps members, it means that better days are ahead.