As they marked the end of their service year, members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) 2024 Batch A, Stream 2, have called on the Federal Government to pay their outstanding arrears to help them become self-reliant.
This appeal comes even after corps members confirmed they received the ₦77,000 allowance recently approved by the government.
During a lowkey passing-out parade at the Federal Secretariat Kano, corps members expressed gratitude for the payment but emphasized that other pending allowances should be settled.
They highlighted the rising cost of living and the difficulty of securing jobs, stressing that receiving all due payments would ease their transition into post-service life.
A corps member, Isma’il Isah, shared his concerns: “We appreciate the ₦77,000 we received, but there are still arrears the government needs to clear. Many of us have plans to start small businesses or further our education, and every naira counts”, he said.
Another Corps Member, Sani Samuel applauded the Management of NYSC in Kano for its guidance during the service year.
Samuel who also said he received the N77,000 allowance, expressed optimism that the “government would pay the corps members their arrears to be self-reliant”.
However, Tahir Muhammad Musbahudeen expressed excitement after completing his service year, just as he commended the government for fulfilling its promise.
Tahir also urged the federal government to pay their arrears to add up to the value of the corps members.
“We thank God for completing our NYSC, it’s exciting.
For the government, they must fulfil their promises as it will show that they have the people at heart, especially the corps members.
So if this government wants the youth to show that unity they should show us that care. We thank the government for payment of the N77,000 as we await our arrears”, he said.
Tahir also called on NYSC to “expand the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) program by incorporating modern technology to better equip corps members for the evolving job market”.
They emphasized that while the SAED program has been beneficial in promoting self-reliance, its current structure lacks exposure to emerging technological trends such as digital marketing, artificial intelligence, and software development.
“If NYSC can integrate technology-focused training, corps members will be better prepared for the future and can compete in the global market”, he stressed.
Speaking during the passing out ceremony, the Assistant Director in charge of Corps Deployment and Relocation of NYSC in Kano, Fatogun Olatunji, says a total of 1,867 corps members from the 2024 Batch A, Stream 2, completed their service in the state.
Olatunji, who is currently the Acting NYSC State Coordinator in Kano, warned that “corps members who absconded during their service year would be sanctioned with an extension”
Olatunji emphasized the importance of discipline and commitment to national service, stating that those who failed to meet the NYSC requirements would not be cleared until they fulfilled their obligations.
He urged outgoing corps members to take advantage of the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) training they received during the service year to become self-reliant.
“The SAED program was introduced to equip you with the necessary skills to create jobs and be financially independent. I encourage you all to apply what you have learned and contribute meaningfully to society instead of waiting for white-collar jobs,” he advised.
The NYSC passing-out parade in Kano was marked by mixed emotions, as corps members celebrated the completion of their service while also expressing concerns about job opportunities.
The program, which has been in place since 1973, was designed to equip young graduates with skills and national service experience.
However, financial struggles have remained a major challenge, with corps members repeatedly calling for timely payment of allowances and improved welfare support.
