In a promising development for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, Brigadier General Yushau Ahmed, the Director General of the NYSC, announced that corps members will soon begin receiving an increased monthly allowance of N77,000.

The announcement was made during the commissioning of a new staff bus donated by Capital Express Insurance Company in Abuja.

Speaking at the event, Ahmed stated, “Arrangements for the increased allowance have been finalised,” confirming that the new allowance would be rolled out by 2025.

READ MORE: Nigeria Strengthens Airport Screenings Amid Spread Of China’s HMPV Virus

He reassured corps members that their welfare and security remain a top priority, emphasizing that they will receive all the benefits they deserve.

“By 2025, we will ensure that corps members enjoy all the benefits due to them,” Ahmed said.

This announcement comes as a response to concerns raised over the current monthly allowance of N33,000, which corps members have been receiving despite the signing of the new national minimum wage bill by President Bola Tinubu in July 2024.

The increase is expected to provide relief to many corps members who have been advocating for better compensation.

During the event, Ahmed also addressed the transportation challenges faced by both NYSC staff and corps members, noting the difficulties in commuting to and from their offices.

To ease these challenges, Capital Express Insurance Company donated a new staff bus to the NYSC.

Matthew Ogwezhi, CEO of Capital Express Insurance, highlighted the longstanding partnership between the company and the NYSC.

“This donation is part of our commitment to support the scheme, especially in light of the rising fuel and transportation costs in Abuja,” Ogwezhi said.

The new bus aims to alleviate some of the commuting difficulties faced by staff, ensuring smoother operations for the NYSC.

A tragic multiple-vehicle collision on Otedola Bridge in Lagos has claimed the life of one man and left three others injured.

The incident occurred on Tuesday during an operation by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) to recover a fallen 40-foot container.

Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, confirmed the fatality, stating that two of the injured victims were rushed to the hospital for treatment.

READ MORE: How NNPC Turned Down Dangote’s $750M Offer To Manage Refineries – Obasanjo

The accident involved four articulated trucks laden with containers, which collided on the bridge due to reckless driving.

The force of the crash caused the trucks to become wedged together.

“Upon arrival at the scene, we discovered that a multiple truck accident had occurred. One adult male was extricated from beneath the first truck, but he unfortunately succumbed to his injuries,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.

The LASEMA chief revealed that the accident victims, three adult males, sustained varying degrees of injury.

Two of the seriously injured were administered on-the-spot medical care before being transported to the Accident and Emergency Centre.

The recovered body was handed over to the Federal Road Safety Corps for further action.

Oke-Osanyintolu assured the public that safety measures were implemented to prevent further incidents in the area, and the affected trucks were safely removed from the scene.

The road was subsequently cleared for traffic flow.

Authorities are continuing investigations into the cause of the collision.

The Oyo State High Court in Ibadan has denied the bail applications of Naomi Silekunola, the estranged wife of the Ooni of Ife, and Abdullahi Fasasi, the Principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan.

The court adjourned Naomi’s case until next week for further hearing.

The denial comes in connection with the tragic stampede that occurred during a children’s festive party at Islamic High School in December 2024. The incident claimed the lives of at least 35 children.

During Tuesday’s proceedings, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Oyo State, Prof. Oyelowo Oyewo, SAN, led the prosecution team, pleading for additional time to complete investigations. “The court did not grant the bail application of Naomi and the school principal because the Attorney General pleaded that the state should be given more time to investigate,” a source in the courtroom revealed.

READ MORE: Singer Portable Praises Burna Boy As ‘Biggest In The Game’

The hearing for the bail application of Oriyomi Hamzat, proprietor of Agidigbo FM, Ibadan, who is also implicated in the case, has been scheduled for Tuesday.

Governor Seyi Makinde has insisted that those responsible for the stampede must face trial. However, he clarified that he is not opposed to the suspects being granted bail, stating, “The case must be heard regardless of the status of those involved.”

The case has drawn significant public attention, with some questioning why similar incidents in Abuja and Anambra did not lead to prosecutions. Despite the controversy, heavy security was deployed at the court to ensure proceedings went smoothly.

The trial, held in Court 8 at Ring Road, Ibadan, was presided over by Justice Olawoyin, with all lawyers from the Oyo State Ministry of Justice present to support the prosecution. The outcome of the case is eagerly awaited by millions of Nigerians.