Edo NYSC Sanctions Corps Members with 90-Day Extension for Protesting Unpaid N77,000 Allowance

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has come under fire after it was reported that it extended the service of some corps members in Edo State by 90 days for protesting unpaid N77,000 monthly allowance through a WhatsApp group.

The controversial extension comes as a result of the delay in the payment of the new approved N77,000 monthly allowance, which was to begin from July 2024.

However, majority of the corps members have reported that they were paid the old allowance of N33,000 despite the Federal Government announcement to raise the payment. The increase was to accommodate the rising cost of living, but lack of funds has led to delay in payments.

This outrage caused some corps members to vent their anger through social media sites, particularly in WhatsApp groups where they visibly complained about the delay in payment.

The NYSC, which has a reputation for zero tolerance for indiscipline, however, reacted swiftly against what it considered an act of indiscipline. Corps members who participated in the protest were reportedly given a 90-day extension of service.

The NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Yushau Ahmed Dogara, has reaffirmed the agency’s zero-tolerance policy towards protests, adding that such protests were deemed disruptive to the program’s integrity and order. The NYSC has also previously disciplined corps members who take part in protests, which could lead to penalties such as extensions of service.

The delayed payment issue is further complicated by reports that the NYSC is not raising the needed funds to finance the allowance increase. Reports also show that the allowance increase has been approved but that there are funding issues delaying the process of payment. The NYSC has assured the corps members that it is doing all it can to address the issue at the earliest opportunity.

The delay has also elicited outrage condemnation by numerous student groups, among them the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS). NANS has called for investigation of the NYSC’s handling of the payment process on grounds that the effect on the morale of corps members as well as their general well-being is adverse.

The students have been griping about the government’s failure to deliver on its pledge to effect the planned increase in the allowance, and the majority have faulted the NYSC for mismanaging the situation.

The recent incident has added fire to the controversy over the NYSC’s administration of the welfare of the corps members. Despite complaints of non-payment still on the rise, the majority are demanding action to address the suffering of the affected corps members.

Despite all these challenges, the NYSC has restated its stand on discipline within the service, warning that disobedience or protest will be punished. The problem has put the agenda on a broader debate on the sustainability of the NYSC program, especially in the context of economic hardship and rising expectations of the corps members.

For now, corps members across Edo State and the country are waiting patiently for more news from the NYSC as they remain on tenterhooks regarding payment of their allowances. How the stalemate is resolved could have significant consequences for the program’s future and the integrity of the corps members.