Corps members will benefit from the new minimum wage, the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General YD Ahmed, has said.

Ahmed made this known during his visit to the Ogun State Orientation Camp in Sagamu.

The NYSC DG clarified that the benefit is contingent on the approval of the minimum wage,  reports that the President has already approved an increment in corps members’ allowances is true.

Corps members to benefit from new minimum wage only  – NYSC DG
By Luminous Jannamike
Corps members will benefit from the new minimum wage, only if approved, the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General YD Ahmed, has said.

Ahmed made this known during his visit to the Ogun State Orientation Camp in Sagamu.

The NYSC DG clarified that the benefit is contingent on the approval of the minimum wage, contrary to reports that the President has already approved an increment in corps members’ allowances.

I’ll draw 1,000 faces of people making positive impact — Ebunoluwa, 9-Yr-Old wonderkid..0.00 / 0.00

The clarification was contained in a statement signed by Eddy Megwa, Director, Information and Public Relations, NYSC, on Monday.

Ahmed advised corps members to remain focused on their service and not be distracted by misinformation.

The visit was part of his oversight functions to ensure the smooth conduct of the orientation exercise and to interact with corps members.

The statement read, “For clarity sake, General Ahmed while addressing Corps Members said it is expected that they would benefit from the minimum wage when it is approved, he did not say the President has approved any increment in Corps Members’ allowance.

“Meanwhile, as part of his oversight functions during Orientation periods, the Director General advised the Corps Members on different issues relating to patriotism, entrepreneurship, security consciousness, community development among other issues of youth development for leadership roles.

“Members of the press are advised to be factual in their reportage of NYSC activities, so as not to incite unnecessary apprehension among the Scheme’s stakeholders.”

RELATED NEWS

FG explains minimum wage July 29 backpay

The Federal Government through the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission has stated that the payment of the new minimum wage will commence from July 2024.

The NSIWC Chairman, Ekpo Nta, said this during a press briefing on Tuesday in Abuja.

The commission stated that this was because the date in question was when the President approved the bill after the National Assembly passed it.

The development is contrary to an earlier statement by the Minister of State for Labour, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, that the payment would commence on May 1, 2024.

It also means that the government would only pay an arrears of two months only if it begins payment by the end of October.

This was as it announced the approval of the revision of the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure and other salary structures.

Last week, the Committee on Consequential Adjustments in Salaries for civil servants met on Friday as regards the new minimum wage template and agreed that the effective date for implementation of the new minimum wage be set at July 29, 2024.

The committee also recommended that the wage award which was discontinued by the government should also be paid up till July 28, 2024.

The committee headed by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, noted that the government took note of the economic situation in the country before it took its decisions.

But reacting in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, the Head of Information of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Benson Upah, faulted the decision of the government, describing it as unacceptable.

“The backdating to July is not fair. It is not acceptable,” he said.

Also, the National Vice President of the Trade Union Congress, Timmy Etim, criticised the government’s move.