The Tinubu government has let down NYSC corps members big time. They were promised a new N77,000 monthly allowance starting pFebruary 2025, but when the cash dropped on Friday night, it was still the old N33,000. That’s less than half of what they were expecting. Back in January, NYSC boss Brigadier General Yushau Ahmed swore the increase was locked in, just waiting for the 2025 budget to pass. He told corpers in Katsina, “It’s approved, we’ve got it, you’ll see N77,000 by February.” But now February’s gone, and nothing has changed.
Corps members are angry and stuck. Nigeria’s inflation is through the roof, and the naira’s value keeps crashing, making everything from food, transport, rent way too costly. The N33,000 can’t even buy decent meals anymore. One corper in Oyo vented, “How can we live on this when prices are so high? They promised us N77,000 this month, but it’s another lie. This government just talks, no action.” Another in Kano added, “We’re serving Nigeria, but we can’t eat properly. They know N33,000 is useless, yet they don’t care.”
No one from Tinubu’s team has explained why the promise fell flat. Trust in this government is sinking fast as economic troubles pile up with more inflation, no jobs, and deeper poverty. Corpers feel ignored, and their frustration is loud. They’re out there serving, but the government’s silence is deafening. Will they ever get that N77,000? Right now, it’s looking like another empty hope.