NYSC corps members bemoan rising cost of living in Abuja

The soaring cost of living and transportation in Abuja is exerting significant strain on the financial well-being of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members.

Every year, many prospective corps members aspire to be posted to Abuja, hoping for better career prospects and a more comfortable living situation, which provide them with various avenues for career growth and the chance to secure high-paying jobs that could significantly boost their socio-economic status.

A cross section of youth corps members told the Daily Trust that beyond the prospects for professional growth lies a different reality characterised by soaring transportation costs, expensive accommodation and a monthly allowance that many say barely meets their basic needs to survive in the city.

Corps members across different places of primary assignments (PPA) expressed a common concern noting that while Abuja offers valuable work experience and networking opportunities, surviving in the city has become increasingly difficult under the current economic realities.

Akachukwu Gospel, who serves in a healthcare facility, said he arrived in Abuja expecting a city of opportunities despite its reputation for a high cost of living. While those expectations have largely been met professionally, he admits the financial burden has been overwhelming.

“The monthly allowance is helpful, but it is not enough to comfortably cover transportation, feeding and accommodation. Living in Abuja requires careful financial planning because daily expenses add up quickly,” he said.

According to him, transportation remains one of the biggest challenges as commuting to work daily consumes a significant portion of his allowance, while decent accommodation remains beyond the reach of many corps members.

For Toriola Ayomide, the experience has been both rewarding and frustrating.

“The cost of living in Abuja can kill the living,” he remarked.

He explained that he spends about N2, 000 daily commuting to his place of primary assignment and Community Development Service (CDS), translating to roughly N45,000 monthly on transportation alone, well over half of the current N77,000 federal allowance.

“When you add feeding, rent, electricity bills and other unforeseen expenses, you realise the allowance cannot be enough in this economy,” he said.

Ayomide believes the welfare package for corps members should be reviewed to include subsidised feeding or food vouchers to cushion the rising cost of living.

Another corps member lamented that accommodation remains one of the biggest hurdles for those posted to the Federal Capital Territory.

“Our allawee is N77,000 now, but here in Abuja between N20,000 and N30,000 goes into transportation monthly.

Most PPAs don’t provide accommodation except a few schools, and even then, not all of them do.

Something really needs to be done,” the corps member said.

Okikiola Samuel’s experience paints a starker picture. Having relocated from Ibadan without relatives in Abuja, he had to rent a self-contained apartment for about N1 million, in addition to paying N15,000 monthly for electricity, water and security.

“People think N77,000 is a big allowance, but in Abuja it is not. Feeding, transportation and personal care all cost a fortune. I save from my allowance, but the savings are just peanuts compared to what I hoped to achieve before service,” he said.

Despite the challenges, many corps members acknowledge that Abuja offers unmatched exposure and career development opportunities.

Miracle Favor described her service year as one of growth, saying she has developed new skills, met people from different backgrounds and become more resilient.

“I expected everything to be expensive before coming to Abuja, and that has proved true.

“Transportation and accommodation are challenging, but with proper planning, I’ve been able to adjust. The experience has made me more independent,” she said.

Yakubu Usman, a corps member, told Abuja Metro that managing feeding and transportation with the monthly allowance has been quite challenging, especially with the current rate of inflation.

He meticulously arranges his monthly expenditures adding that upon receiving his stipend, he prioritises his transportation funds to ensure seamless commuting to his place of assignment.

Usman stated that he purchases food items in large quantities to ensure they will suffice for the entire month noting that this strategy enables him to minimise unnecessary expenditures.

Like other corps members, Mariam Oseni is also battling lots of challenges surviving in the city.

She told Abuja Metro that the current economic situation has been challenging for her adding that the rising cost of living has made it more difficult to afford basic necessities as prices of goods and services continue to increase.

She said as a corps member living in Abuja requires careful financial planning just to meet everyday needs, adding that despite these challenges, she remains hopeful and continues to focus on developing her skills and preparing for better opportunities after her service.

For Emeka Uche, before his posting to Abuja, he heard many people complain about the high cost of living but believed it until he came and saw for himself.

“It’s really stressful; with the 77k and the amount they pay me at my PPA everything still looks like nothing because all my allowance is actually going to transport, feeding, regardless of me staying with my uncle, I am still spending a lot on transportation,” he said.

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