The Abia government has announced a 1,150 per cent increase in the monthly allowance of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members serving in the state.
The state government’s gesture raises the allowance from N4,000 to between N20,000 and N50,000.
The chief press secretary to the governor, Njoku Ukoha, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.
Mr Ukoha stated that the new structure introduced a N20,000 base allowance for all corps members serving in the state.
He explained that those posted to the state government’s establishments would receive an additional N10,000 monthly, making theirs N30,000.
Mr Ukoha added that teaching and medical corps members would get N30,000 more as special incentives.
He described the gesture as a demonstration of the state government’s commitment to youth empowerment and human capital development.
Mr Ukoha noted that the Otti-led administration was determined to make life easier for corps members serving in the state.
He recalled that the government had earlier renovated the NYSC orientation camp in Umuna, Bende Local Government Area.
Mr Ukoha stated that the renovation included internal road repairs, power installations, and the refurbishment of camp buildings.
He also stated that the governor believed that every institution in Abia, whether federal or state-owned, deserved attention.
Mr Ukoha added that corps members have contributed significantly to Abia’s development, especially in education, medicine, and engineering.
He explained that the review underscored the government’s continued support for corps members serving in the state.
He cited the case of Benson Ojeikere, who did his NYSC in the state, was retained, and rose to become Abia’s current head of service.
Mr Ukoha also recalled that the governor recently approved the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) for health workers.
He stated that the policy was extended to local government health personnel to ensure parity with federal workers.
Mr Ukoha noted that the government allocated a cumulative 35 per cent of this year’s budget to the health and education sectors.
He explained that the wage adjustments were aimed at building institutional capacity and strengthening the public service infrastructure.
(NAN)