The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members participating in the 2023 elections would discharge their duties in comfort, safety, and security.
The management of NYSC had earlier called for the review of allowances being paid to corps members during elections.
However, ahead of the polls, the newly appointed Director-General of the NYSC, Brig-General Yushau Ahmed confirmed the increment of the corps members’ allowance.
At the courtesy visit by the new DG to the commission’s headquarters on Thursday in Abuja, INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu noted that the Commission could not conduct elections without the involvement of NYSC.
He said it is simply unimaginable that the commission could not conduct elections without the NYSC.
The first thing that is dear to the commission and NYSC is the comfort, safety, and security of the corps members.
“And in this, there are three different strands of the comfort, safety, and security of corps members.
“The first one is when we deploy them for election. We deployed them first on a Friday to what we call the super racks where they stay overnight before they’re deployed the following day to the polling units.
“Over the years we’ve been working efficiently to make sure their stay overnight is more comfortable and we’ll continue to do whatever we can to make this comfortable so that the following day we deploy them to the polling units.
On the issue of security, he said the Commission has been working over the years with the security agencies to provide security protection to the youth corps members.
He also assured that there is security during deployment and the elections proper.
Unfortunately, he recalled that in the past, the camps were raided by hoodlums when the Youth Corps members have been deployed for elections “so what we have done working with the security agencies is to ensure that we extend security protection to the NYSC.”
On his part, the NYSC director general said assured that all the terms and conditions with Commission are operational to the fullest.
Consequently, he said the NYSC has been sensitising corps members on the importance of participating in this election.
“You know, there are a lot of fears. That this or that will happen, but we try to make it clear to them that it is a duty and a responsibility for them to actually do their best and take responsibility.
“Tomorrow they will stand to be proud that they are part and parcel of the growth and the development of democracy in this country.
“I want to thank the chairman also for at least agreeing to improve the welfare of these corps members and their staff because that will go a long way in motivating them.” (Blueprint)
