Corps members serving in Akwa Ibom State's Urue-Offong/Oruko Local Government Area will now receive an additional N20,000 monthly stipend from the council, separate from the federal NYSC allowance. The announcement was made by the council chairman, Chief Uno Etim Uno, during a courtesy visit by corps members on Tuesday.
New Stipend Details and Effective Date
Chief Uno Etim Uno confirmed the approval, stating, "For the corps members serving here, we have approved a monthly stipend of N20,000 for each of the corps members, and the payment takes immediate effect." This means corps members posted to the local government could receive a total of N97,000 in monthly allowances when combined with the federal NYSC allowance of N77,000.
The N77,000 federal allowance was introduced in March 2025, replacing the previous N33,000 monthly payment. The increase was approved by the Federal Government as part of the adjustment to the national minimum wage.
Local Initiative, Not Nationwide Increase
It is important to note that the new N20,000 payment is not a nationwide increase in the NYSC allowance, but a local government initiative for corps members serving specifically in Urue-Offong/Oruko. Uno also said the council would provide support to help corps members carry out their duties during their service year.
He asked them to regard the local government as their home for the duration of their posting and assured them that their welfare and safety would remain priorities. Accommodation was also raised during the meeting. Uno directed the council's Works Department to inspect the lodges used by corps members and identify areas that require repairs, renovation or other interventions.
Support for Young Nigerians and NYSC Reforms
The chairman described the additional payment as a practical way of supporting young Nigerians who have been deployed to the area to contribute their skills and time to its development. The announcement comes as the Federal Government continues to pursue reforms aimed at changing how the NYSC operates.
In June 2026, the Federal Executive Council approved a comprehensive reform of the scheme, including changes to deployment, orientation, primary assignments and skills development. Speaking on behalf of the corps members, their Community Liaison Officer, Ukachukwu Ifeanyi, thanked the council chairman for the gesture and other development initiatives in the area.
As of the time of publishing, no separate statement from the NYSC national headquarters confirming the local government's payment arrangement had been published. The N20,000 figure and immediate commencement of the payment are based on the announcement by the Urue-Offong/Oruko council chairman.
