Untold Story About NYSC Allowance
Atume Terfa
For many fresh graduates, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) allowance is viewed as an essential financial lifeline. However, beyond the relief it provides, analysts and social commentators warn that this monthly stipend—recently increased to ₦77,000 in line with the new minimum wage—may be quietly trapping corps members in a cycle of complacency.
According to a Pulse Nigeria report, the regular inflow of the allowance can create a comfort zone that undermines ambition. With the assurance of monthly payments, many corps members find themselves easing off the pursuit of bigger goals.
“That little monthly payment might stop you from pushing harder for your bigger goals,” the report cautions.
What makes the situation more precarious is how the allowance is often spent. Instead of being used as seed capital for future projects, corps members admit to blowing it on fast food, parties, and gadgets. Financial experts warn that these habits can breed poor money management skills, leaving graduates ill-prepared for life after NYSC.
The service year is designed to expose graduates to new skills, networks, and entrepreneurial ventures. But critics say the focus on merely stretching the stipend blinds many from pursuing opportunities that could shape their careers.
Rather than functioning as a stepping stone, the allowance risks turning into a survival trap. With many corps members fixated on making the money last, they often prioritize short-term comfort over building sustainable careers or financial paths.
The system itself has also come under fire. Although the Federal Government approved the ₦77,000 allowance earlier this year, many corps members are still stuck on the old ₦33,000 payments, pending a promised backdated settlement. The delay has fueled frustration, with some questioning whether the scheme is truly structured to support youth development.
On X (formerly Twitter), one corps member lamented:
“NYSC allowance is a trap. On this episode of Creator’s Diary, I had a chat with a 21-year-old frustrated corper…”
Community forums echo similar advice, with one popular post warning:
“NYSC allowance should not be what you aim to achieve.” (Facebook)
The NYSC allowance may ease immediate struggles, but without discipline and foresight, it risks leaving graduates unprepared for the challenges that follow the service year. Experts urge corps members to see it not as an end, but as a tool for building lasting opportunities
