The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has condemned the Federal Government’s failure to implement the approved increase in allowances for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members despite the announcement made in September 2024.
HURIWA, in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, described the government’s prolonged inaction as unjust and deceptive.
He urged for an immediate actualization of the promised policy to uphold the integrity of the NYSC scheme and ensure the welfare of Nigerian youths.
“The announcement, which raised corps members’ monthly stipends from ₦33,000 to ₦77,000, was widely welcomed as a significant step toward alleviating the financial burden faced by NYSC members during their mandatory year of national service.
“However, four months after the declaration, the government has yet to implement the policy, leaving corps members disillusioned and struggling to meet basic needs amid rising inflation,” Onwubiko said.
He also argued that the delay is a violation of trust, stating: “The NYSC should be an institution that embodies transparency and fairness. It is unacceptable for the Federal Government to announce an allowance increase only to leave corps members in a state of indefinite uncertainty. This failure undermines the credibility of the government and the institution, while subjecting thousands of young Nigerians to unnecessary hardship.”
Onwubiko warned of implications of the unfulfilled promise, emphasizing that many corps members rely on the stipend for transportation, accommodation, feeding, and other essential expenses during their service year.
He called on the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, to take decisive action in ensuring that the reviewed allowances are paid without further delay.
He also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and ensure that the revised NYSC allowances are implemented without further delay.
“The time for action is now. The Federal Government must prioritize the welfare of Nigerian youths, starting with the immediate implementation of the reviewed NYSC allowance. Anything short of this will only deepen the disillusionment and frustration of a generation that already feels neglected and undervalued,” he said.
HURIWA Slams FG Over Delayed Implementation Of NYSC Allowance Increment is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
Source: The Whistler
