The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Yusha'u Dogara Ahmed, has confirmed that the long-awaited minimum wage arrears will be paid to former corps members who served during the period when the new wage policy was implemented.
In a statement released on Friday, the NYSC DG assured that efforts are being made to ensure the timely payment of the arrears, which had been a major point of concern for many former corps members.
The issue of minimum wage arrears had been raised multiple times by ex-corps members who had not received their due payments after the Nigerian government’s implementation of the new national minimum wage. These payments, according to the NYSC, are owed to those who completed their service during the transitional period when the wage adjustment was made, but had not received the updated compensation.
Brigadier General Ahmed stated that the NYSC had been working closely with the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) to resolve the matter. He further noted that the NYSC was committed to fulfilling its financial obligations to former corps members and ensuring that they received their full entitlements as stipulated by the government.
“Efforts are already underway to ensure the arrears are settled as soon as possible. We understand the frustrations that many ex-corps members have faced regarding this issue and we are doing everything we can to make sure the payments are processed swiftly,” he said.
The news has been met with mixed reactions. Many ex-corps members have expressed their relief and satisfaction with the NYSC’s commitment to addressing the arrears. However, some have called for faster action, urging the NYSC to expedite the process and provide a clear timeline for when the payments will be completed.
With the announcement of the wage arrears payment, the NYSC is hopeful that this issue will soon be resolved, allowing ex-corps members to receive the full benefits they are entitled to after completing their mandatory service.
As the matter progresses, former corps members are eagerly awaiting further updates on when the payments will begin.
