Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has approved an upward review of monthly stipends for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members serving in the state, increasing their pay “from ₦4,000 to as much as ₦50,000.”
According to a statement issued on Friday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Njoku Ukoha, the new allowance structure includes a ₦20,000 base payment for all corps members in the state.
In addition to this, those posted to state government institutions will receive an extra ₦10,000, while corps members serving as teachers and medical personnel will earn an additional ₦30,000 each month.
“In addition to the Federal Government’s increased monthly NYSC allowance of ₦77,000, all corps members serving in Abia State will now earn a base monthly allowance of ₦20,000, while those serving within state government establishments, and specifically teaching and medical personnel, will earn an additional discriminatory allowance of ₦10,000 and ₦30,000, respectively to motivate interested corp members, thereby bridging the human capacity gap created by decades of neglect and attrition in both sectors,” the statement read.
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Ukoha explained that the adjustment complements the Federal Government’s new ₦77,000 NYSC allowance and forms part of the governor’s wider initiative to enhance youth empowerment and strengthen Abia’s public sector.
“This marks the first major adjustment after 27 years, reflecting Governor Otti’s commitment to youth empowerment and workforce development in Abia,” the statement added.
He also noted that the Otti administration has continued to support corps members by renovating the NYSC Orientation Camp in Bende Local Government Area, improving internal roads, providing power infrastructure, and upgrading camp facilities — despite it being federal property.
“The governor believes that every institution or infrastructure within Abia, whether federal or state-owned, deserves attention because it is Abians who benefit the most,” Ukoha noted.
The statement further recalled that the government had recently implemented the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) for state health workers and extended it to local government employees to bring their pay in line with federal standards, aimed at improving morale and efficiency.
It also disclosed that around 35 per cent of the state’s annual budget is dedicated to health and education, sectors the administration regards as “pillars of institutional capacity and human capital development.”
The governor emphasised that the new measures are intended to make service more fulfilling for corps members and encourage young professionals to contribute actively to the state’s development.
“Governor Otti’s latest move sends a clear message: Abia State is serious about empowering youth, rewarding excellence, and building a future where service is truly valued,” the statement concluded.
With this revision, Abia now ranks among the states offering the highest stipends to corps members nationwide.
