Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has approved a significant increase in the monthly stipends paid to National Youth Service Corps members serving within the state, raising the allowance from ₦4,000 to as much as ₦50,000.
The announcement was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Njoku Ukoha.
According to the statement, the new structure allocates a base sum of ₦20,000 to every corps member serving in Abia, with additional incentives for those working in critical sectors.
Those deployed to state government establishments will now receive an extra ₦10,000, while corps members in the teaching and medical fields will get an additional ₦30,000 monthly.
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“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 corps members, thereby bridging the human capacity gap created by decades of neglect and attrition in both sectors,” the statement read.
The increment, Ukoha explained, aligns with Otti’s broader plan to rebuild public service capacity and promote youth empowerment across the state.
He noted that this marks the first major review of corps members’ stipends in nearly three decades, describing it as proof of the governor’s “commitment to workforce development and social responsibility”.
The statement further highlighted that Otti’s administration has invested heavily in improving the NYSC Orientation Camp in Bende Local Government Area.
This includes renovating internal roads, upgrading accommodation, and restoring electricity to the facility, despite its status as 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 added.
The release also recalled that the state government recently implemented the Consolidated Health Salary Structure for health workers, including those at the local government level, aligning their pay with national standards to encourage productivity.
According to the Chief Press Secretary, about 35 per cent of Abia’s total budget now goes into education and healthcare sectors he described as “pillars of institutional capacity and human capital development.”
He stressed that the new allowance structure aims not only to reward corps members but also to inspire more young professionals to contribute meaningfully to Abia’s progress.
“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 added.
With this decision, Abia State now joins the few states in Nigeria offering the highest monthly stipends to corps members, positioning Otti’s government as one actively investing in young people — a stark contrast to the Bola Tinubu administration’s unfulfilled promises of youth empowerment.
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