The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige has denied that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members allowance has been increased.
He stated this at a press briefing in Obosi, in Idemili Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The minister also said the story was unfounded, adding that the Federal Government would not have increased the allowance of corps members without first coming out with a minimum wage for the Nigerian workers.
He further explained that the corps members’ allowance was coterminous with the prevailing minimum wage.
Ngige said, “No recommendation has come to the Federal Executive Council on this. The NYSC pay is on the sliding scale; the same sliding scale with the national minimum wage except that there is a top up; what is called top up on the national minimum wage is to make for special transport allowance for members of the NYSC.
“That is why today, the national minimum wage is N18, 000, and the top up for NYSC members is about N1, 500 making it N19, 500. This is what the Federal Government pays each corps member.
“For now, there is no figure before us as an increment and as a matter of fact, the last Federal Executive Council had mandated the Minister of Youths and Sports to liaise with the Director General of the NYSC so that he can be brought on board for us to work as a team, “ Ngige stated.