Relief at Last: NYSC Members Confirm Arrears Have Dropped
Byline: IDNN Youth Policy & National Service Affairs Desk
Abuja — After months of agitation, delayed disbursement, and silence, the Federal Government has begun paying outstanding NYSC arrears to serving corps members across the country.
From Kano to Enugu, from Lagos to Taraba, corps members flooded social media Tuesday with screenshots and confirmation of credit alerts, marking the first real breakthrough in what had become a frustrating wait for many.
“Just got my arrears paid. At last! It’s not much, but it matters,” tweeted one corps member from Rivers State.
What’s Being Paid?
According to NYSC insiders and Finance Ministry briefings:
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The arrears cover unpaid transport allowances, relocation stipends, and backlog of state support funds
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Payment is being rolled out in batches based on documentation clearance
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A technical delay in payment processing and reconciliation caused the hold-up
The current batch appears to focus on corps members deployed between November 2023 and March 2024, though others are expected to follow in coming weeks.
NYSC Confirms Disbursement in Progress
NYSC spokesperson Edet Nwokolo told IDNN that the scheme had completed all backend reconciliation and disbursement was ongoing.
“We are working closely with the Ministry of Finance. Every eligible corps member will be paid. No one will be left behind,” he said.
FG Assures Future Delays Will Be Avoided
The Federal Government says it has upgraded its corps member payment system to integrate BVN verification, reduce manual errors, and streamline processing.
However, civil society groups say the delay dented public confidence, especially as corps members battle rising costs, late accommodation, and transportation delays during service.
🔍 IDNN YOUTH POLICY ANALYSIS
Why Arrears Hurt More Than Just Wallets — And Why Timely Payments Matter
👉 Why It Hit Hard:
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NYSC members earn just ₦33,000/month — any delay is a crisis
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Many use the money for feeding, rent, and survival
👉 FG’s Long-Term Fix:
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Introduce an automated monthly NYSC digital dashboard
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Link state subventions to corps member bank alerts
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Appoint monitoring partners to track field-level complaints
🗣️ Bottom Line: The alerts are in. But the trauma isn’t over — and trust in the system will take more than money to repair.
