The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members participating in the 2023 elections of safety and an increase in allowance.
The management of NYSC had earlier called for the review of allowances being paid to corps members during elections.
The newly appointed director-general of the NYSC, Brig-General Yushau Ahmed, however, confirmed the increment of the corps members’ allowance ahead of the polls.
Speaking when he received the NYSC management at the commission’s headquarters Thursday in Abuja, INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu noted that the Commission can not conduct elections without the involvement of NYSC.
He said it is simply unimaginable that the Commission can 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”
Noting that another perennial question is the fate of the youth corps after the election, he said the same arrangement would be made for them to bring them back safely.
He noted that the Commission has met with leaders of Transport Workers for logistics for elections, adding that
they have finalised their safety and comfort.
“So I want to assure you, that will ensure that those corps members are not abandoned after the election.
“They’re also brought along with the materials for the election.
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.”
On the issue of security, he said NYSC is working around the clock day or night talking with the security agencies on the importance of the security of the corps members.
“This talk with the security is actually giving them more confidence that they will actually participate in this election on our part, we will continue to also sensitize them.”
He also noted that Corps members on camp are also trained as ad-hoc staff, but made reservations on Kano and Enugu.
“I think there’s a problem in Kano and Enugu I hope maybe something will be done to ensure that this training is taking place,” he added.
