Sowore demands NYSC stipend increase to N250,000, says corps members ready to reject ‘slave wage’

Nigerian human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, has condemned the current monthly stipend of N33,000 as a “slave wage.”

He is calling for a significant increase in the allowance to N250,000 and proposing that the NYSC program be made optional for graduates.

Sowore’s remarks come in light of growing dissatisfaction among corps members over their financial compensation. He warned that many are preparing to reject the meager stipend, which he argues fails to reflect the rising cost of living in Nigeria.

In a passionate post on his social media platform X, Sowore stated, “Nigerian youths (sic) serving across the country under the slavish @officialnyscng program are gearing up for action to reject the N33,000 slave wage for ‘Corpers.’ We support their agitation for better wages; no Corper should receive less than N250k monthly!”

The former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) also expressed his belief that the NYSC program has outlived its usefulness, suggesting that participation should be voluntary for graduates who genuinely wish to serve.

“The NYSC program should be voluntary for only graduates who may be interested in National Service as ‘Youth Corpers,’” he emphasized.

Sowore’s call for increased compensation coincides with a recent rebuttal from the NYSC management regarding claims circulating on social media that corps members’ bank accounts are being upgraded to facilitate payment of a new N70,000 national minimum wage. NYSC’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Eddy Megwa, clarified in a statement that no official directive has been issued to implement such a payment or upgrade accounts for corps members.

He labelled the reports as “misleading and absolute falsehood,” cautioning corps members to be wary of “mischief makers” aiming to exploit their trust.