By Aluko Abiodun
In a recent time, the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Nigeria Labour Congress, and the Trade Union Congress agreed on new minimum wage for the benefit of Public servants.
After several marathon discussions on the amount, the concerned stakeholders sealed 70 Thousand Naira (N70,000) as the new monthly take home for the salary earners with the cadre of new minimum wage.
After their agreement and the passing of the Bill into law by National Assembly Members; President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assented to the bill into law earlier this month to reduce the effects of high rates of prices of goods and services.
The approval of the new wages beats good tunes to the ears of workers, though they were expecting more than the agreed amount, they accept that the new work wages can stand a difference.
READ No directive Yet on N70,000 Minimum Wage for Corps Members – NYSC
In the same vein, the current serving National Youth Service Corps member also believed they would benefit from the new minimum wages by the end of this month until when the authority in control of the scheme announced yesterday on their different social media handles that they haven’t received any directive from the relevant sector of government responsible for wages matters.
Does that mean the Young Nigerians serving their fatherland with humanity won’t benefit from the new development in minimum wages?
However, since the establishment of the National Youth Service Corps by the Yakubu Gowon-led administration as Head of State with one of the objectives of “promotion of National unity and development of Nigerian Youths and Nigeria into a great and dynamic economy”, the scheme has been adopting National Minimum Wages as the way of paying stipend know as (Monthly Allowance) to the serving corps member which they always benefited if there is any changing in the figure of minimum wages.
Recall that during the regime of Late Alhaji Umar Musa Yar’Adua as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigerian when there was an increment in the national minimum wages, the serving Corpers then also received the new figure with arrears immediately after the new figure took effect.
Not too long ago when President Tinubu predecessor, President Muhammadu Buhari’s government also improved the national minimum wage to Thirthy-Three Thousand Naira (N33,000), the serving corps members also got the new amount as their stipend together alongside other Federal public servants.
Why does the tune want to sound different from President Tinubu’s administration? or is the President not aware that the monthly stipend paid to Nigerian Youths serving their fatherland cannot even take care of their transportation from their home to their various places of Primary Assignments in a month not to speak of feeding?
However, a lot of Nigerian Youths serving currently were so excited after seeing Mr. President sign the new work wages, hoping they would also benefit from the new national development starting from the end of this month, but their system changed yesterday when the National Youth Service Corps Official stated that they haven’t received any directive yet from the concern stakeholders whether the scheme will be benefit from the new minimum wages or not.
The information signed and released by the scheme Director of Information and Public Relations, Eddy Megwa Fnir titled RE: UPGRADING CORPS MEMBERS ACCOUNT TO ACCOMMODATE #70,000 MINIMUM WAGE “Corps Members, parents, and members of the public should note that no directive has been received from the relevant sector of government responsible for wages matters. It is therefore impossible for the NYSC to issue any information on such.”
My question is, why the relevant sector of government responsible for wages matters have not yet directed the NYSC official to inform their serving corps members that they’re going to benefit from the new wages, or President Tinubu government does not understand the pain of the Nigerian Youths serving the nation currently?
We hope the serving Corpers too will receive the new Emilokan minimum wage by the end of this month, but if not what would be the hopes of Young Nigerians serving in different States of the Federation with this economy?
Aluko Abiodun
11 August 2024.
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