New Bill seeks to raise NYSC transport allowance from N150 a month

by James Sambo

The House of Representatives has passed for second reading, a Bill seeking a better welfare package for members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). The Bill seeks to amend the NYSC Act No 51 of 1993 by making provisions to enhance the welfare of corps members, and to encourage the acquisition of entrepreneurial skills by the end of the annual service year.

Moshood Mustapha (APC- Kwara), who sponsored the bill, expressed regret over the high rate unemployment and poverty in the country, and said that the Bill, if passed into law, will encourage self-employment. He said that the essence of the Bill is to empower Nigerian graduates to be self-reliant through skill acquisition during the one year mandatory service after graduation from various tertiary institutions.

Section 7(3) of the proposed amendment seeks to increase state governments’ annual subvention from N500,000 to N50 million, to enable NYSC to cater adequately for the welfare and skill acquisition needs of corps members.

This minimum subvention will be provided before the commencement of the service year for which it was intended. Section 18 (2) also seeks to increase minimum accommodation allowance from N250 per month to N5,000 while transport allowance might be increased from N150 per month to N5,000.

After the debate on the Bill, the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, referred the Bill to the Ad hoc Committee on the 1999 Constitution and House Committee on Youth Development for further action. 

Culled from ynaija.com