Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has approved an increase in monthly allowances for members of the National Youth Service Corps serving in the state, raising the payment “from ₦4,000 to as much as ₦50,000.”
The new allowance structure provides a ₦20,000 base allowance for all corps members serving in Abia.
Plus this ₦20,000, those deployed to state government establishments will receive an additional ₦10,000, while medical and teaching corps members will earn an extra ₦30,000 monthly.
The approval was disclosed in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Njoku Ukoha, on Friday.
Ukoha said the increment complements the Federal Government’s new ₦77,000 monthly NYSC allowance and forms part of the governor’s broader policy to strengthen youth empowerment and public sector capacity in Abia.
It added that Otti’s administration has consistently supported corps members by renovating the NYSC Orientation Camp in Bende Local Government Area, improving internal roads, installing power infrastructure, and upgrading camp facilities despite the camp being federal property.
The CPS recalls that Otti’s government had also recently implemented the Consolidated Health Salary Structure for health workers across the state and extended it to local government employees, aligning their pay with federal standards to boost morale and productivity in the health sector.
According to the statement, about 35 per cent of the state’s budget is allocated to healthcare and education sectors, which the administration describes as “pillars of institutional capacity and human capital development.”
The governor said the reforms are designed to make service rewarding for corps members and to encourage young professionals to contribute meaningfully to Abia’s growth.
With the allowance increase, Abia State now ranks among the states with the highest monthly stipends for NYSC members.
The governor made the announcement at the swearing-in ceremony for the 2025 Batch B Stream I corps members, held at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Damare, Girei Local Government Area.
About the Author
