President Tinubu has appointed Brigadier General Kunle Nafiu as the new NYSC DG, replacing Brig. Gen. Yushau Ahmed. Meanwhile, NANS demands an investigation into the non-payment of the approved N77,000 corps members’ allowance.
NEW NYSC DG
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Brigadier General Kunle Nafiu as the new Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). Nafiu replaces Brigadier General Yushau Ahmed with immediate effect.
Before his appointment as the new NYSC DG, Brig. Gen. Nafiu served as the Chief of Staff to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Olufemi Oluyede. He also held the same position under the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Raised Abiodun Lagbaja.
A distinguished military officer, Nafiu is a Member of the 47 Regular Course and an Artillery Officer. He is an alumnus of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College as well as the United States Army War College. Prior to becoming Chief of Staff to the COAS, he was a Directing Staff at the Army War College, Nigeria.
Brig. Gen. Nafiu hails from Ileogbo, Aiyedire Local Government Area of Osun State, and brings with him a wealth of experience in military leadership and administration.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has demanded an investigation into the NYSC’s failure to implement the recently approved N77,000 monthly allowance for corps members.
Recall that the federal government had approved an increase in the NYSC allowance from N33,000 to N77,000 in July 2024. This decision followed the enactment of the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024. The approval was officially communicated by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission in a letter dated September 25, 2024, signed by the commission’s Chairman, Mr. Ekpo Nta.
Brigadier-General Yushau Ahmed, the outgoing NYSC DG, announced on January 30, 2025, that corps members would begin receiving the new allowance from February 2025. However, recent reports indicate that corps members still received the old N33,000 allowance in February, sparking widespread disappointment and frustration.
NANS, through its National Vice President, Inter-Campus Affairs, Akinbodunse Sileola Felicia, has strongly condemned the delay, describing it as an injustice to corps members who are struggling amid Nigeria’s high cost of living.
“Findings by my office revealed that corps members received only N33,000 for their February allowance last Friday, against the N77,000 promised by the NYSC DG,” Felicia stated.
She further emphasized that since the federal and many state governments have already begun paying the new minimum wage of N70,000 to their workers, there is no justification for withholding the increased NYSC allowance.
“The NYSC has no excuse for failing to implement the payment, and we demand that the federal government investigates the matter thoroughly,” she added.
NANS has urged the NYSC leadership to provide an official explanation for the delay. The student body also warned that the failure to pay corps members their rightful allowance could negatively affect their morale and overall well-being.
Additionally, Felicia revealed that NANS would engage with the NYSC leadership to determine the reasons behind the non-payment and ensure that corps members receive their due compensation.
The appointment of Brigadier General Kunle Nafiu as the new NYSC Director-General comes at a critical time when the agency is facing scrutiny over the unpaid allowance. Many expect him to address the issue swiftly and restore confidence in the scheme.
As corps members continue to await their increased stipends aka “allawee”, the question remains: will the new NYSC DG prioritize the resolution of this financial crisis, or will corps members have to keep waiting?
For now, NANS insists that answers and action are needed—immediately.
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