Members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme in Benue State have appealed to Governor Hyacinth Alia to fulfill the state government’s promise of paying them a monthly allowance of N15,000.
The appeal was made in an open letter by the aggrieved members of the NYSC Batch B Stream II currently deployed across various sectors in the state.
According to the letter addressed to the Governor, the corps members lamented that since their deployment 11 months ago, not a single payment of the promised allowance has been made, nor has any official communication been issued to explain the delay.
“We, the corps members of NYSC Batch B Stream II serving in Benue State, write with utmost respect to appeal for the payment of the N15,000 monthly allowance your administration graciously promised,” the letter reads in part.
“It has been 11 months since our deployment, and to date, we have not received a single payment nor any official update regarding the delay.
“Many of us serve in rural areas under challenging conditions, contributing to education, health, and development, often from our own pockets.”
The corps members, many of whom are posted to underserved rural communities, highlighted the challenges they face while contributing to the education, healthcare, and grassroots development of the state.
They noted that despite their efforts, they have had to fund their activities and living expenses from their meager federal stipends.
“This allowance, though modest, would ease the burden of survival in today’s harsh economy. More importantly, it reflects your government’s commitment to youth development and integrity in public service,” they added.
The promise of a state-paid stipend to corps members is a gesture some state governments adopt to support young Nigerians during their one-year compulsory service.
Benue State, under Governor Alia’s administration, had reportedly pledged the N15,000 monthly incentive in 2023 to motivate youth involvement in development initiatives.
“We trust in your leadership and humbly ask that this promise be fulfilled without further delay. A word kept is a legacy sealed,” the letter added.
One of the affected corps members told SaharaReporters, “There comes a time when silence is no longer golden, when those pushed to the edge must raise their voices and scream through the pain.
“This letter comes from the corps members of batch B stream II because this is one of those times.
“With all due respect, Governor Alia’s administration has played with our lives, our hopes, and our dignity.
“He promised to pay corps members serving in Benue State a monthly allowance of N15,000. That promise was met with gratitude, optimism, and a renewed sense of purpose.
“All we have received is complete silence, deliberate neglect, and a growing sense that we were deceived.
“What changed, Your Excellency? Was your promise nothing more than a political stunt? Were our sacrifices, sleepless nights, our teaching, our healthcare services, our administrative duties all worthless to your government?
“This isn’t just about the money anymore. This is about principle. About accountability. About integrity.”
According to the corps member, “He cannot make a public commitment and then vanish behind excuses or, worse, say nothing at all.
“The deafening silence from his government is not just disappointing, it is insulting. It reeks of disregard for the corps members who left their homes, risked their lives, and served Benue State with the belief that they were contributing to something meaningful.”
The aggrieved corps member further said, “We’re not asking for favors. We are demanding what is rightfully ours.
“N15,000 a month for 11 months, that’s N165,000 per corps member. Multiply that by the thousands of us who have waited patiently. His government owes us, morally and financially.
“This is a stain on his administration’s record. He still has a chance to make a correction if he acts now.
“We have given him time. We have waited in hope. We have prayed. But hope without justice is betrayal. And silence in the face of injustice is complicity.
“We are watching. The entire nation is watching. And history will remember. Pay us. All of us. Now.”
However, as of press time, there has been no official response from the Benue State Government regarding the status of the allowance.
Sahara Reporters.
