Does Ekiti State pay Corps members? In this article, we’ll address this question for Corps members considering service in Ekiti State. If you’re unsure whether the State government pays Corps members, this article is tailored for you, providing all the necessary information you may need. Before delving into the answer, let’s explore some vital information that Corps members aspiring to serve in Ekiti State may find useful.
About Ekiti State
Ekiti State, located in southwestern Nigeria, shares borders with Kwara, Kogi, Ondo, and Osun States. Established in 1996 after separating from Ondo State, the capital of Ekiti State is Ado-Ekiti. Despite being one of Nigeria’s smaller states, it ranks 31st in area and 30th in population, boasting nearly 3.3 million residents as of 2016.
Geographically, Ekiti State features Nigerian lowland forests across most of its territory, transitioning to the drier Guinean forest–savanna mosaic in the north. The region is home to diverse wildlife, including false acraeas, mona monkeys, forest buffaloes, and grey parrots. Notably, the Ise Forest Reserve hosts one of the last Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee populations, numbering around 20 individuals.
In a significant environmental move, Ekiti State made history in March 2022 by adopting the Obeche (Triplochiton scleroxylon) as its official State Tree. This decision, announced by Governor Kayode Fayemi on World Forest Day, reflects the tree’s local prominence and its multifaceted significance in terms of the environment, economy, and culture.
Ekiti State has been inhabited for centuries by the Ekiti people, a Yoruba subgroup, with a minority presence of the Akoko Yoruba subgroup. The majority of the state’s population (~85%) follows Christianity, while smaller minorities adhere to Islam (10%) and traditional beliefs (5%).
In the pre-colonial era, the region was under the rule of the Oyo Empire, Benin Empire, and eventually, the Ekiti states forming the Ekiti Confederacy in the late 1800s. The Confederacy engaged in the Kiriji War from 1877 to 1893, a conflict involving Eastern Yoruba groups against the Ibadan Kingdom and other Western Yoruba groups. The war concluded in a British-brokered stalemate before the area was colonized, becoming part of the British Southern Nigeria Protectorate and later merged into British Nigeria in 1914.
Post-independence in 1960, the region was initially part of the Western Region until 1967, when it became part of the Western State. In 1976, the Western State split, with the state’s east becoming Ondo State. Two decades later, Ondo State’s northwest, known as the Ekiti Zone, was carved out to establish Ekiti State.
Economically, Ekiti State relies on agriculture, particularly the cultivation of yams, rice, cocoa, and cassava. Logging and tourism also contribute to the economy. With the joint-thirteenth highest Human Development Index in the country, Ekiti State is considered the cultural heartland of the Ekiti people.
Does Ekiti State Pay Corpers?
Corpers serving in Ekiti State do not receive payment from the state government, meaning they do not receive a state allowance. If you’re a Corps member wondering about additional compensation beyond the federal government allowance of N33,000, it’s important to note that Ekiti State government does not provide payment, except in specific cases, particularly within the health sector, where some Corps members may receive pay.
However, there are instances where corpers in Ekiti State might receive additional financial support:
- MDAs and Private Establishments: Certain ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) and private establishments associated with the state government may opt to pay corpers serving under them additional stipends or allowances. The likelihood of this happening is not guaranteed and varies depending on the specific MDA.
- Side Hustles: Corpers are permitted to engage in legitimate side hustles to supplement their income, as long as it doesn’t interfere with their NYSC duties.
- Living Allowances: Corpers deployed for special duties, such as elections, may receive additional living allowances from the NYSC.