NYSC: We’ve not been directed to pay corps members N70k minimum wage

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) says it has not received directives for corps members to upgrade their accounts for the payment of N70,000 minimum wage.

Last month, President Bola Tinubu approved N70,000 as the new minimum wage for workers in the country.

The decision followed weeks of deliberations with leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).

There were, however, social media reports that corps members were informed to upgrade their bank accounts to accommodate the N70,000.

In a statement on Sunday, Eddy Megwa, the NYSC spokesperson, dismissed the reports, saying “no directive has been received from the government”.

Megwa described the reports as “absolute falsehood”, adding that the perpetrators are “mischief makers playing on the intelligence of Nigerians”.

The NYSC PRO clarified that the scheme will not make decisions outside the directive of the relevant government agency in charge of wage matters.

He added that corps members would be informed through appropriate channels if there is a new development on their allowance.

“The attention of National Youth Service Corps Management has been drawn to a 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 absolute falsehood which is far from the truth,” the statement reads in part.

“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.

“Corps Members already know the approved channel and mode of communication in the Scheme and should therefore ignore the directive accordingly.”