Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has announced a 300 per cent increase in the monthly allowance for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members serving in the state.
Mr Eno announced the increase in the Government House, Uyo, on Friday, the second day of the State Delivery Meeting, which reviews the status of the administration’s numerous projects.
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Corps members serving in the state are to receive a monthly allowance of N20,000 from the state government, in addition to the one from the federal government. Before now, the Akwa Ibom government used to pay N5,000 to the corps members.
“Over 10,000 corps members are posted to Akwa Ibom annually. We must continue to encourage and support them,” Mr Eno is quoted as saying, according to a statement posted on the state government Facebook page.
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Mr Eno said the increment is to support the federal government’s N77,000 monthly allowance, helping corps members meet their basic needs.
Besides the increment, the governor recently approved the reconstruction of the NYSC Orientation Camp at Ikot Itie Udung in Nsit Atai Local Government Area of the state as part of ongoing efforts to improve the welfare of corps members in the state, the statement said.
With the latest increment, corps members serving in oil-rich Akwa Ibom will receive a total of N97,000 as monthly allowance, an amount that is N17,000 higher than the N80,000 minimum wage for civil servants in the state.
NYSC allowance
The Nigerian law mandates citizens who complete their first degree, Bachelor’s degree, or its equivalent to participate in a one-year national service.
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During this service year, the fresh graduates are posted to different parts of the country to serve, while the federal government pays them an allowance. Some states also support the corps members with an allowance.
Over the years, the federal government has repeatedly increased allowances for corps members from N19,800 to N33,00 and currently N77,000.
Although approval was given last year, the federal government began paying the N77,000 allowance to the corps members in March this year.
