The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has said that the monthly emoluments for corps members will be increased immediately the federal government implements the new minimum wage.
In July, the organised labour accepted N70,000 as minimum wage, after a long time negotiations with the federal government.
The bill increasing the country’s minimum wage from N30,000 was passed at the national assembly on July 23 and subsequently assented to on July 29.
The director general of the NYSC, Yusha’u Ahmed, says the monthly allowance for corpers will be raised from N33,000 the moment federal government implements the new wage law.
Ahmed was in Kebbi and Sokoto to talk to the 2024 Batch ‘B’ stream two corps members at the orientation camps in the two states.
Speaking about the monthly stipends, the NYSC DG said that corpers’ contributions to the country’s socio-economic development are inestimable.
He added that members of the scheme must utilize their service year to develop themselves and plan for a brighter future.
Ahmed then encouraged corpers to embrace the NYSC skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development programme.
“At least, learn a skill while in camp and after the Orientation Course, you continue with the post-camp training,” the DG said.
“Try to acquire a skill that would enable you to create jobs and employ others instead of searching for jobs. We have many ex-Corps members across the country who are doing well in their different vocations today.
“The NYSC Management has partnered with many reliable organizations like the Central Bank of Nigeria, Bank of Industry, Unity Bank Access Bank, and NNPC Foundation among others, that have been assisting in giving loans and grants to Corps Members.”
The DG assured corps members of safety during the pendency of their service year.
He mentioned that campers would be posted to secure locations but implored them to remain vigilant in their environment.
Aghata Banki-Okolo, NYSC coordinator in Kebbi, stated that corps members have adapted well to camp life.
“They are responding positively to all camp activities and instructions. We also have a total number of 240 camp officials that have been applying emotional intelligence in the discharge of their duties,” she said.
“A total of 1,195 Corps Members have been registered, comprising 1,077 for Kebbi and 118 that were dislodged from Zamfara State.”
In his own words, Yakubu Usman, NYSC coordinator in Sokoto, applauded the corps members for their discipline and quick adaptation to the camp environment.
He also said that Sokoto’s corps member population totals 1,488, comprising 682 males and 806 females.
Usman said that they include 134 males and 66 females displaced from Zamfara as a result of security threats.