The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has commended Gov. Alex Otti of Abia for approving a significant increase in the monthly allowance for corps members serving in the state.

The NYSC state coordinator, Gladys Adama, made the commendation on Friday at the opening ceremony of the 2025 orientation for Batch ‘C’ corps members deployed in the state.

The event took place at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Umunna, in Bende Local Government Area.

“I would like to thank my action governor for the approval of the upward review of the monthly stipend to corps members serving in the state,” Mrs Adama said.

The governor had, on November 7, approved an upward review of the monthly NYSC allowances from N4,000 to between N20,000 and N50,000, with immediate effect.

The review was coming more than three decades after the allowance was last reviewed by the state government.

Following the approval, all serving corps members would receive a monthly base of N20,000, in addition to the federal government’s N77,000 stipend.

Those deployed in state government’s establishments would receive an additional N10,000, while the medical and teaching corps members would receive an extra N30,000 monthly.

Mrs Adama also expressed profound gratitude to the governor for the ongoing rehabilitation of the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp.

She, however, appealed for the commencement of the second phase of the rehabilitation work.

She disclosed that 1,940 corps members, comprising 891 males and 1,049 females, were fully registered and kitted for the orientation exercise.

Mrs Adama, while congratulating the corps members, urged them to avail themselves of the opportunity for self-employment offered through the scheme’s Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme.

In a remark, the governor commended the corps members for heeding the call to serve their country.

Mr Otti, represented by the commissioner for sports and youth development, Nwaobilor Ananaba, affirmed his administration’s commitment towards transforming the state into a hub of economic growth, innovation, and prosperity.

“I therefore urge you to join hands with my administration to make this dream a reality.

“Your skills, talents, and energies will be invaluable in helping us drive development and progress in our state,” he said.

The Chief Judge of the state, Justice Lilian Abai, represented by Justice Chido Nwakanma, administered the oath of allegiance to the corps members.

(NAN)