Elections will engage 200,000 corps members, per the NYSC
According to the National Youth Service Corps, or NYSC, more than 200,000 corps members have been assigned as ad hoc personnel for the general elections in 2023.
This information was released by the Director General, Brigadier General Yushau Dogara Ahmed, on Wednesday in Abuja at a press briefing on the scheme's preparations for the upcoming general elections.
Ahmed claims that more than 75% of INEC's ad hoc employees for the elections are corps members.
He mentioned that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) personnel had previously trained the corps members expecting to take part in the elections both inside and outside of orientation camps.
"The National Youth Service Corps members are always prepared to do it again just as they have done it before," stated Ahmed. "Those who will take part in this election have been trained."
They received the proper instruction, and they received a reprimand. They received directives. The Corp members have been well-informed and are prepared to provide their best effort, according to both us as people and the scheme officials who have spoken with them.
The NYSC DG issued a warning to Corps members not to solicit any kind of reward from candidates during the elections.
We want to warn corps members to use caution no matter the situation, he continued. They ought to refuse any gifts from politicians. They must refuse every food offered to them.
"They should travel with everything they need and at least their service assistance. We don't anticipate any corps member to accept any type of reward or gift.
"They should travel with everything they need and at least their service assistance. We don't anticipate any corps member accepting any type of reward or gift.
The INEC has offered to give these corps members sleeping bags and anything else they require for the polls in order to ensure their welfare.
The DG also mentioned the security precautions the NYSC has taken to protect corps members' safety before, during, and after the elections.
A "Distress Call Centre" was established as part of the program's attempts to help alert security officials of any concern, Ahmed continued, adding that the Corps had also met with the chiefs of security agencies to verify that they were secure.
"The protection of these Corp members is something essential I must also highlight. I've met with the DSS and the IG of Police since taking charge.
"Every hand is on deck to ensure the security of the Corps members. I have met with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, and I have also talked with INEC.
According to INEC, "we were given the assurance that they will convey these corps members to their different places of assignment and bring them back safely from wherever they are picking them from," he said.
