The acting Director of the Information and Public Relations
unit of the NYSC, Caroline Embu, made this known on Tuesday.
The Management of the National Youth Service Corps
has stated that it is waiting for the go-ahead for the implementation of new
minimum wage for corpers.
NYSC said the decision on the N70,000 for workers,
will be determined by the Federal Government.
Recall that President Tinubu signed the new minimum
wage bill of N70,000 into law on July 29, 2024, following weeks of negotiations
with the leadership of the organised labour.
Following the approval of the minimum wage,
speculations had risen about the new pay for corps members, with some claiming
to have received a directive to increase the capacity of their bank accounts to
be able to receive above N50,000.
The supposed message read: “Most of the
corps members’ accounts opened in the camp cannot take more than N50,000 at
once. All corps members are advised to visit their various banks and confirm
that their account can take or receive more than N70,000.”
However, the NYSC had released a statement stating
that the purported message was “absolutely falsehood.”
“The attention of National Youth Service Corps
management has been drawn to misleading information circulating in the media
regarding payment of N70,000 minimum wage to corps members and the directive to
upgrade their accounts. This is an absolute falsehood which is far from the
truth.
“Corps members, parents and members of the public
should note that no directive has been received from the relevant sector of
government responsible for wages matters. It is, therefore, impossible for the
NYSC to issue any information on such,” a statement, signed by the former Director Information and Public
Relations, Eddy Megwa, read.
However, asked on Tuesday if the scheme was currently
negotiating a new pay for corps members, the acting spokesperson reiterated
that the review of the allowance was in the hands of the Federal Government,
and not the NYSC, noting that there was currently no change in corps members’
allowances.
“I don’t know how much the Federal Government will
pay the corps members, I cannot tell you that for sure right now, because it is
a decision of the Federal Government, not the NYSC. The only thing I can tell
you now is that when the Federal Government increases the minimum wage, the
corps members are expected to enjoy an increase in their allowance too, just
like the DG said,” she
said.