The National Youth Service Corps has guaranteed its members that after the federal government enacts the new minimum wage, their monthly stipend of N33,000 will be enhanced.
This came on Tuesday by the NYSC Director General Yusha’u Ahmed while he was in Kebbi and Sokoto addressing the new corps members in the 2024 Batch ‘B’ stream who were participating in the orientation program in camps located in both both states.
In addition to emphasising that participants in the program should use their service year to better themselves and make plans for the future, he stated that corps members had made an incalculable contribution to the socioeconomic development of the nation
He exhorted corps participants to utilize the NYSC program for enterprise development and skill training.
The DG said, ”At least, learn a skill while in camp and after the Orientation Course, you continue with the post-camp training. 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.”
He informed the campers that they would be posted to safe areas but at the same time urged them to remain vigilant of their surroundings.
Speaking, Aghata Banki-Okolo, the NYSC coordinator for Kebbi, observed that the corps members had acclimated well to camp life.
“They are responding positively to all camp activities and instructions. We also have a total number of 240 camp officials who have been applying emotional intelligence in the discharge of their duties.
“A total of 1,195 Corps Members have been registered, comprising 1,077 for Kebbi and 118 that were dislodged from Zamfara State,” she said.
Yakubu Usman, the NYSC coordinator for Sokoto, commended the corps members for their discipline and quick adjustment to the camp setting.
Usman stated that there are 1,488 corps members in Sokoto overall, comprising 682 men and 806 women. He added that 134 men and 66 women in this number were relocated from Zamfara as a result of security threats.
Following talks with the federal government, the organized labor sector agreed to a minimum salary of N70,000 in July.
The National Assembly passed the measure increasing Nigeria’s minimum wage from N30,000 on July 23 and signed it into law on July 29.
