National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members have asked the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to increase their allowance, saying they are facing serious hardship.

The corpers whose appeals come almost a month after the national minimum wage was increased by N25,000 expressed dissatisfaction and concerns over their exclusion from the award.

Recall the adjustment in workers’ salaries was due to the National Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC)protest against the hardship occasioned by fuel subsidy removal.

However, the Federal Government is yet to implement an increase in the NYSC members’ N33,000 monthly allowance.

A serving corps member in Ogun State, who identified himself as Melekwe Anthony, said: “While the government should be commended for paying Corpers regularly and increasing the monthly allowance from N19,500 to 33,000 naira, I think that our government should do more given current hardship in the country as most of us are starving. to ensure serving our country.

“With the cost of foodstuff in the market, transportation, and other necessary expenses right now, excluding personal savings, Corpers should certainly be earning more than they do. We know how important it is to serve our country but posting graduates far away from home to serve on empty stomachs is certainly not encouraging.”

In the same vein another serving corps member in Rivers State, Aniete Essien, said: “The Federal Government is not treating us well. After the increment of minimum wage to N65,000, corpers all over Nigeria were very happy and we were expecting it to be reflected in our monthly allowance but now the Federal Government has failed us and we are not happy. My message to the Federal Government from my point of view and with what we are facing in the country, I’m pleading that they should look into this because corps members are suffering and it’s majorly due to the inflation in the country”

Gabriel, who is also a serving corps member in Rivers State said: “It was good news when President Bola Tinubu announced the increment of minimum wage, corpers were expecting that our allowance would be increased also.

“My message to the Federal Government is that they should say something and they should try to do what they say, that will help increase our trust in them”.

Another serving corps member in Lagos state (name withheld) pleaded with the Federal Government to “consider youth corpers. The Nigerian economy is becoming something else, the cost of foodstuff, transportation, and other amenities are on the high side. The N33,000 allowance is not sufficient to cover our expenses.”