The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has expressed its inability to pay the N30,000 minimum wage to corps members because it is yet to get such directive from the federal government.

Shuaibu Ibrahim, NYSC Director-General, who stated during a media parley on Thursday in Abuja, also said that fake graduates will be handed over to the police.

“Let me reiterate our warning that any person who presents fake certificate in an attempt to get mobilised for service will be handed over to the security agencies for prosecution. We are working on those fake corps members. They will be arrested and prosecuted,” he said.

“If I show you their papers, you will feel very sad. Some people have asked me if NYSC has the power to crosscheck the certification of graduates, I said no, but we have the power to ensure that unqualified Nigerians are not mobilised for service.

“The NYSC Act says unqualified Nigerians who go for service are liable for jail (term) of two years. So, the NYSC will never condone or abet illegality in any form. We want Nigerians to know that. Since inception, 4,644,804 Nigerians have participated in the scheme.”

On minimum wage for corps members, he said:

”On the minimum wage, I cannot make any pronouncement because it is ongoing. The moment it is transmitted to NYSC, we will make it known to the corps members and the general public,” he said.

The NYSC DG also revealed that 4,644,804 Nigerians had participated in the scheme since inception in 1973.