Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has approved a new allowance structure for members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving in the state, raising their monthly stipend to as much as ₦50,000, depending on their deployment.
The adjustment was announced in a statement issued on Friday by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Njoku Ukoha.
According to the statement, all corps members in Abia will now receive a base monthly allowance of ₦20,000. In addition, those posted to state government establishments will receive an extra ₦10,000, while corps members serving in medical and teaching roles will earn an additional ₦30,000.
The new structure comes on the heels of the Federal Government’s recently announced increase in the national NYSC allowance to ₦77,000.
“In addition to the Federal Government’s increased monthly NYSC allowance, all corps members serving in Abia State will now earn a base monthly allowance of ₦20,000, while those deployed to state establishments and those in the teaching and medical fields will earn ₦10,000 and ₦30,000 extra, respectively,” the statement read.
Ukoha described the move as part of a broader youth empowerment and public sector capacity-building strategy. He added that this is the first major upward review of state allowances for corps members in Abia in nearly three decades.
The CPS also noted that the state government has in recent months invested in improving facilities at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Bende, including internal road rehabilitation, power supply upgrades and renovation of hostels and shared spaces.
“The governor believes that whether the facility is owned by the state or the Federal Government, Abians stand to benefit from it and therefore deserve a conducive environment,” Ukoha said.
The statement further recalled that the state recently implemented the Consolidated Health Salary Structure for health workers, including those at the local government level, as part of efforts to boost morale and retain professionals.
About 35 per cent of the state’s budget, Ukoha noted, is allocated to the education and health sectors, which the administration views as central to long-term development.
With the latest adjustment, Abia now ranks among states offering the highest support to corps members.
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