Abia Governor Raises Corps Members’ Allowance to ₦50,000

Abia State Governor Alex Otti has approved a major increase in monthly allowances for National Youth Service Corps members serving in the state, boosting payments from ₦4,000 to as much as ₦50,000.

According to a statement released by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Njoku Ukoha, all corps members in Abia will now receive a ₦20,000 base allowance. Those deployed to state government establishments will get an extra ₦10,000, while corps members serving in teaching and medical positions will earn an additional ₦30,000 monthly.

The increment comes alongside the Federal Government’s new ₦77,000 NYSC allowance, bringing Abia’s total monthly package for some categories of corps members to nearly ₦127,000. Ukoha said the move reflects the governor’s commitment to youth empowerment and public sector reform.

“This marks the first significant adjustment in 27 years and underscores Governor Otti’s dedication to workforce development and service motivation,” the statement noted.

The government highlighted that Otti’s administration has continually supported NYSC operations in the state by renovating the orientation camp in Bende Local Government Area, improving road networks, upgrading power supply, and enhancing camp facilities. Despite the camp being a federal property, the governor emphasized that “Abians are the ultimate beneficiaries, regardless of ownership.”

Otti’s administration recently implemented the Consolidated Health Salary Structure for state and local government health workers, aligning their pay with federal standards to strengthen morale and efficiency. About 35 percent of Abia’s 2025 budget is dedicated to healthcare and education, sectors described as “pillars of institutional capacity and human capital development.”

The governor said the new allowance structure aims to make service more rewarding and to attract young professionals eager to contribute to Abia’s progress.

With this move, Abia now ranks among the Nigerian states offering the highest stipends to NYSC members.

In a similar development, Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri recently raised the corps members’ monthly allowance in his state from ₦20,000 to ₦30,000, reaffirming the growing trend of state-level support for youth service participants across the country.