In a significant move aimed at enhancing the welfare of young graduates, the Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, has officially announced a substantial increase in the monthly allowance for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members serving in the state.
A New Era for Corps Members in Abia
The announcement, made public on Friday, November 7, 2025, by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Njoku Ukoha, details a new allowance structure that elevates the state's contribution dramatically. This policy effectively raises the total monthly earnings for many corps members in Abia to ₦50,000.
This initiative is designed to complement the recently enhanced federal government allowance. As confirmed by reports, the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration began paying a new monthly stipend of ₦77,000, with the 2024 Batch A Stream 2 corps members being the first beneficiaries. This federal increase was itself a raise from the previous ₦33,000 monthly payment.
Breakdown of the Enhanced Allowance Structure
The Abia State government's new package is structured to cater to different groups of corps members, providing targeted incentives.
According to the official statement, every corps member deployed to Abia State will receive a base state allowance of ₦20,000 on top of the federal stipend.
Furthermore, an additional discriminatory allowance has been introduced. Corps members serving in state government establishments will get an extra ₦10,000 per month.
In a strategic move to address critical manpower shortages, Governor Otti has approved an extra ₦30,000 monthly for corps members in the medical and teaching sectors. This brings the total monthly take-home for these essential personnel to ₦50,000 from the state alone, and a combined ₦127,000 when added to the federal government's ₦77,000.
Bridging Gaps and Empowering Youth
This landmark increment is more than just a financial boost; it is a core part of Governor Otti's broader policy to strengthen youth empowerment and public sector capacity. The government stated that the extra incentives for medical and teaching personnel are specifically intended to "motivate interested corps members, thereby bridging the human capacity gap created by decades of neglect and attrition in both sectors."
This policy marks a historic shift, being the first major adjustment to the state's corps member allowance in 27 years. It underscores a renewed commitment to valuing the contributions of young graduates to the state's development.
The move by Abia State aligns with a growing trend among state governments to improve corps member welfare. For instance, Legit.ng also reported that the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno, approved an increase in the state's monthly allowance for corps members from ₦5,000 to ₦20,000, effective August 1, 2025. Similarly, the Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri, had earlier raised the monthly allowance for NYSC members in his state from ₦20,000 to ₦30,000.
The decision by Governor Alex Otti is widely seen as a progressive step that will not only improve the living standards of corps members during their service year but also make Abia State a more attractive destination for skilled young graduates, ultimately benefiting the state's long-term human resource development.
