The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to increasing the monthly stipend for corps members from N33,000 in alignment with the newly approved minimum wage by the Federal Government.
This assurance was given by the NYSC Director General, Yusha’u Ahmed, during his visit to the 2024 Batch ‘B’ Stream Two corps members at their orientation camps in Kebbi and Sokoto on Tuesday.
Ahmed underscored the vital contributions of corps members to Nigeria’s socio-economic development, urging them to use their service year as a period for personal growth and strategic planning for their future.
Highlighting the importance of the NYSC’s Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) program, Ahmed encouraged corps members to take advantage of the training opportunities provided.
“At least, learn a skill while in camp, and after the Orientation Course, continue with post-camp training. Acquire a skill that can help you create jobs and employ others instead of searching for jobs,” he advised.
He further emphasized that many former corps members have successfully built careers based on the skills they acquired during the program.
To bolster corps members’ entrepreneurial aspirations, Ahmed mentioned that the NYSC has partnered with several reputable organizations, such as the Central Bank of Nigeria, Bank of Industry, Unity Bank, Access Bank, and NNPC Foundation.
These partnerships aim to provide loans and grants to corps members interested in starting their own businesses.
Ahmed also assured the corps members of their safety throughout their service year, stating that they would be posted to secure locations. However, he encouraged them to remain vigilant in their environments.
During the visit, NYSC Coordinator in Kebbi, Aghata Banki-Okolo, reported that corps members in the state have adapted well to camp life. She praised the 240 camp officials for effectively managing their duties with emotional intelligence.
Banki-Okolo noted that 1,195 corps members had been registered in Kebbi, including 1,077 serving in Kebbi and 118 transferred from Zamfara State.
Similarly, the NYSC Coordinator in Sokoto, Yakubu Usman, commended the corps members for their discipline and adaptability.
He reported that Sokoto is hosting 1,488 corps members, comprising 682 males and 806 females, including 200 corps members displaced from Zamfara due to security concerns.
This development follows the recent agreement between the organized labor sector and the Federal Government on a new minimum wage of N70,000. The National Assembly passed the bill on July 23, and it was signed into law on July 29, increasing Nigeria’s minimum wage from N30,000.
The NYSC’s pledge to adjust the monthly stipends of corps members in accordance with the new minimum wage represents a significant move towards enhancing their welfare during their service year.
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