Every corps member knows the ritual: allawee alert drops, but by the time data, food, transport to your place of primary assignment (PPA), and one compulsory contribution have taken their cut, there’s barely anything left. At ₦77,000 a month, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) allowance is barely above the ₦70,000 minimum wage, and often isn’t enough for many to live on, much less save.
Yet, some corps members manage to save their entire NYSC allawee for a year. So when someone says they saved or are in the process of saving the entire amount, we pay attention.
We spoke to five Nigerians who have done exactly that or are in the process of doing so to understand how they have managed to do it and what they intend to do with the money.
“I’d been watching people save their entire allawee since I was in school. I kept thinking, when will it be my turn?” — Jennifer, digital creator
I’ve used Piggyvest for over three years, and the first milestone I hit on the app was saving ₦1 million. This gave me the confidence that I could do the same during my NYSC year. I saw people save their allowance long before I even got into camp, and so I kept telling myself: when it’s my turn, I’ll do the same.
Thankfully, my PPA pays well, and I get paid as a UGC creator, so I don’t have to depend on my allowance. When I eventually finish my service year, I will use the money saved to either get a new phone or start my relocation process out of Nigeria. Whatever is left, I will invest it, though I know it probably won’t be much. If I were to advise other corps members, I’d tell them to save something, even if it’s only 20%. But I know not everyone can because some corps members are surviving on the ₦77,000 alone, with no additional income.
“My brother saved his allawee for the whole year and used it to start his Master’s degree. I wanted to do the same.” — Mary, Marketing Strategist
I decided to save my NYSC allawee because I watched my older brother do it first. He saved his for a full year, and with some extra from our parents, it became the money that started his master’s degree. I figured I’d do the same for mine, eventually. I also had an internship at a marketing agency paying around ₦50,000 a month at the time, so I never really felt the pull to touch the allawee at all.
In the end, I didn’t need it for school. My father paid for my Master’s programme. So once my service year ended, I withdrew what I’d saved and invested it.
I’d recommend saving to other corps members, but I’m also aware that I was quite privileged: I wasn’t paying rent, and food was mostly sorted. Not everyone has that, so I wouldn’t tell anyone to save until it hurts. Save what you can without running yourself into the ground.
“I had other means of supporting myself day-to-day.” — Emmanuel, Business Manager
Saving my allawee for the year wasn’t really a plan at first — I did it out of curiosity. I wanted to see how much it would add up to by the end of my service year, and I had other means of supporting myself day-to-day anyway, so I figured I’d let it sit untouched until a major bill came up.
The process was very simple: after opening a bank account, I never authorised a single transfer. I just checked every month to confirm the money had landed, and left it alone for 11 months straight. The only reason I went to the bank at all was to collect my final statement of account for clearance.
The plan, going in, was to buy my sister a phone and replace my laptop. But at the end of my NYSC, I used the funds to give my sister a phone — and my then-girlfriend one too.
My advice to people trying to save is: the moment money lands in your hand, save first. If you don’t set it aside, you might no longer be able to save. Keep it somewhere you can’t touch easily, but don’t lock away everything. Hold a smaller fund too, for emergencies, like siblings that text when they need something urgently.
“I don’t think there’s any help coming from anywhere, so anytime I have spare money, I save it.” — Oyindamola, Corps member,
I resumed service in July, so I’m only a month in, but I’ve already decided the allawee is going untouched for the full length of the programme. I studied linguistics, majoring in Yoruba, and the decision came from watching the trend of corps members online talking about saving their allawee, and me asking myself the same question: after NYSC, what do I actually have to fall back on?
I’ve saved with Piggyvest for years already, so this isn’t a new habit for me — I’m always saving, even when there’s no particular target in mind. If I were being honest, I don’t have a fixed plan for this money yet. It could go toward visa costs if I decide to relocate, or a professional exam if the opportunity comes up.
My advice to other corps members is to save if you’re able to. You never know when you’re going to need something, so it’s always nice to have savings you can fall back on. Saving isn’t really a decision for me at this point, it’s just a habit.
“I couldn’t access the bank after leaving camp.” — Lawrence, entrepreneur and media consultant
Saving wasn’t really a deliberate decision. I already had a full-time job before I was called up for service, so I was living off that income the whole time. The allawee just sat there — mostly because I couldn’t access the bank attached to the account once I left camp, and partly because I never had any urgency to sort it out.
When the service year ended, I treated myself to three boxes of Nike trainers and a Seiko watch. My advice for anyone trying to build a savings habit is unglamorous but real: have more than one stream of income, especially in this economy, and get honest about your needs versus wants. Basic advice — but it’s what’s worked for me.
Conclusion
If you’re a corps member wondering whether saving your allawee is even possible on ₦77,000, the answer is: for some people, yes. Although their reasons for saving differed, everyone who saved their entire allawee had a second source of income that created enough financial breathing room for them and ensured all their needs were met during the duration of their NYSC programme.
If you still want to try, here are a few tips:
- Start small. Save an amount you can comfortably set aside. As little as N2000 goes a long way.
- Automate savings the day the allawee lands, using your Piggybank wallet. This way, you prevent decision fatigue every time.
- Learn practical tips on building emergency savings during NYSC, by reading this guide.
- If you are looking to earn more from side hustles during your service year, this piece gives you fourteen things you can do to make money. This way, you can also live comfortably, without touching your allawee, if you want to.
