Many NYSC members are having a tough time making ends meet with their monthly allowance. It’s often not enough to cover their expenses for the whole month. Nosa Onyeka, a graduate of Biology Education, who in November, Nosa Onyeka, left the comfort of his home in Lagos serve in Taraba State, experienced this firsthand. Despite enjoying the new environment at first, the challenges of living on a small allowance made him think about going back home.
The N33,000 monthly allowance was not enough to cover his needs. And his place of work didn’t pay him any extra money. To survive, Nosa had to borrow money from loan apps. He found himself taking out loans just to cover basic things like food, transportation, and rent. It was a stressful situation for him, as he knew he would have to pay back the loans with interest.
“The allawee is insufficient to live on. Food prices have doubled, if not tripled. You must go over your budget to eat three times daily. You can barely even save from this meagre allowance. There are toiletries and provisions to purchase. There is also data subscription as well as other miscellaneous expenses. It is never enough to be honest,” he told News Sources on Thursday.
Nosa’s story is not unique. Many other NYSC members are facing similar financial difficulties. Some have had to find part-time jobs or rely on help from family and friends to make ends meet.The low NYSC allowance has been a long-standing issue. Many people believe that the government should increase the allowance to help corps members meet their basic needs.
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