The Abia State government has increased monthly allowances for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members serving in the state to ₦50,000.
The approval was announced by Governor Alex Otti on Friday, November 7, 2025, signaling a major boost in support for youth serving in public roles.
Under the new arrangement, all corps members in the state will receive a base allowance of ₦20,000.
Those posted to state ministries and agencies will receive an additional ₦10,000, while teaching and medical corps members will get an extra ₦30,000, bringing the total state-provided allowance to ₦50,000 per month.
The state said the increment complements the Federal Government’s ₦77,000 monthly NYSC stipend and is intended to motivate corps members serving in Abia.
Officials also highlighted improvements at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Bende Local Government Area, including upgraded roads, better power supply, and general facility enhancements.
The NYSC was established in 1973 to promote national unity by deploying Nigerian graduates to states outside their own.
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Over the decades, many states have struggled to provide meaningful additional allowances, leaving corps members with limited support beyond the federal stipend.
In Abia, the state allowance had remained at about ₦4,000 before this revision.
The new allowance places Abia among the highest-paying states for NYSC members and reflects a broader effort by the Otti administration to retain skilled youth in public service roles, especially in critical sectors such as healthcare, education, and state administration.
Analysts say the increase may also encourage more corps members to accept postings in less urbanized areas of the state.