By Chioma Obinagwam
Renowned Nigerian human rights activist and journalist, Omoyele Sowore, has commended Ushie Rita Uguamaye popularly called Raye, for her role in ensuring that the latest N77,000 Nigerian Youth Service Corp (NYSC) allowance is implemented.
Confiance News reports from the official X handle of Omoyele Sowore on Wednesday.
“It’s clear that the efforts led by National Youth Service Corps, corps member, Ushie Rita Uguamaye, have greatly improved the lives of youth corpers. Even so, we’re committed to continuing the 30-day rant challenge and the larger revolt, with the goal of liberating Nigeria’s youth,” Sowore said.
What you should know about the N77,000 NYSC allowance
Confiance News gathered that the Nigerian government approved an increase in the NYSC monthly allowance to ₦77,000 in September 2024, from the N33,000 earlier paid.
The approval was done following the enactment of the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024. This adjustment aligned with the new minimum wage of ₦70,000.
However, implementation faced delays due to budgetary constraints, leaving corps members to continue receiving ₦33,000 until March 2025.
The payment officially commenced in March, with assurances from the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, and the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, that all backlogs would be cleared. This increment reflects the government’s commitment to improving the welfare of corps members nationwide.
Reactions
Although Sowore acknowledged Raye’s role in the implementation of the N77,000 NYSC allowance, it stirred mixed reactions among Nigerians. Not all were in support of his opinion.
Olu Peters Esq, ‘Well, it may not necessarily be that her timely advocacy was what brought about this change, but I think the federal government used her advocacy as a strategy to win the hearts of the youths, creating a make belief that the government is “now ready” to listen to the youth.”
Innocent Azih disagrees. He said,”Not true. Will they retroactively pay the arrears, to them? Including those who had passed out. If they do so, then it will make sense as a strategy to win the youth. Otherwise they had planned to steal the money and or possibly add to 2027 campaign purse.”
According to Dr. Farouk,
“So if Raye had not spoken up, they wouldn’t have paid the 77k.
Anyway, they have started paying the money. But let’s be honest, what can 77k even buy in Nigeria?”
However, Kakanfo said, ‘Exactly because na she pass the Minimum wage into law and na she pass the budget into law last month ending.
NYSC can only pay if it is part of budget.
When government do well, you praise other people. When they do bad, you curse the government.
How will they take una serious?”
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