NYSC Director-General Advocates for New Minimum Wage for Corps Members, Dismisses Ransom Payment Rumors
Brigadier General Yushau Ahmed, the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has called for the inclusion of Corps members in the implementation of the new minimum wage recently approved by the Federal Government for public servants. General Ahmed made this appeal during a visit to the Chairman of the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, Mr. Ekpo Nta, at his office in Abuja.
During the meeting, General Ahmed expressed gratitude to Mr. Nta for his continued support to the NYSC. He emphasized the importance of financial empowerment for Corps members, stating that they should benefit from the new national minimum wage to enhance their welfare. In response, Mr. Nta, an ex-Corps member himself who served in Kano in 1977, praised the NYSC as the largest youth program globally. He assured General Ahmed that the commission would take the necessary steps to ensure Corps members are considered in any new wage adjustments.
Mr. Nta also advocated for post-camp accommodation for Corps members, highlighting the need for the public to provide a supportive environment for them to fulfill their statutory duties. He commended the NYSC’s efforts in equipping Corps members with valuable skills, transforming many of them into job creators. Additionally, he urged employers who receive Corps members to engage them productively, noting that at his commission, Corps members are trained in soft skills to enhance their productivity.
In a related development, General Ahmed addressed the media in Abuja regarding the recent rescue of eight prospective Corps members who were kidnapped by unknown gunmen in Zamfara State. Contrary to media reports, he clarified that no ransom was paid to secure the release of the kidnapped Corps members, who were abducted on August 17, 2024, while traveling from Uyo in Akwa Ibom State to Sokoto.
“There was no payment of ransom for the rescue of the prospective Corps members. No state government paid any amount as claimed in some sections of the media. I must state that I have not received any one naira from any state government for the rescue of these Corps members,” General Ahmed emphasized.
He also highlighted the collaborative efforts between the NYSC, the Nigerian Army, the Police, the Department of State Services (DSS), and traditional rulers, which led to the successful rescue operation. “Through the combined effort of the security agencies, especially the Nigerian Army and the NYSC, the mission started yielding results with the rescue of the first set of four prospective Corps members,” he said.
General Ahmed reiterated the NYSC’s commitment to the welfare and security of all its members and advised them to avoid traveling at night due to the risks involved. “We will continue to advise our prospective and serving Corps members to desist from traveling at night because of the dangers associated with it,” he warned.
The NYSC DG also took the opportunity to commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his leadership and support to the Corps, underscoring the government’s role in ensuring the safety and well-being of young Nigerians serving across the country.
This incident and the ongoing advocacy for better welfare packages reflect the NYSC’s continuous efforts to improve the conditions under which its members serve and to protect them from the growing security challenges in Nigeria.
