National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Director General, Brigadier General Yushau Dogara Ahmed has revealed that more than 200,000 Corps members were deployed as Adhoc staff for the forthcoming general elections.
General Ahmed who disclosed this during Press Briefing in Abuja, on the Scheme readiness for the general elections that hold on Saturday, 25 February, 2023, while added that Corps represent 75 percent of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) adhoc staff for the poll.
According to him, “Over 75 percent of the INEC adhoc staff are the Corps members. So we are making use of over 200,000 Corps members for this exercise. They form a bulk of the adhoc staff. We will give the best that we can give.”
“Those who are participating in this election have already been trained. Some of them are trained outside the camps.
“Those who just passed out were trained by INEC officials in the camp. Proper training has been given to them, guidelines were given to them. They have been well informed and they are ready to give their best”, the DG said.
The NYSC Boss emphasized on the security of corps members, while assured that the Scheme has put in place measures to ensure Corps members’ security during and after the elections, adding that this was part of effort made by meeting with heads of security agencies to ensure their safety.
He said, “What is fundamental for me to also mention is the security of these Corps members. Since I took over, I have met with the Inspector General of Police, the Department of State Security (DSS), the NSCDC and equally met with the INEC.
“And every hand is on deck to ensure that the Corps members are secured. We were assured by INEC that Corps members will be carried to their respective places of assignment and bring them back safely wherever they are picked from,” he said.
General Ahmed warned Corps members against collection of any form of gratification from politicians during the election. “For the welfare of these Corps members, the INEC has promised to provide them with sleeping kits and whatever they need for the elections.
“I want to warn Corps members about is that they should be careful in whatever environment they find themselves in. They should not accept any gift from any politician.
“They must not accept any food from anybody. As they go, they should carry at least their service support. Any form of gratification or gifts, we don’t expect any Corps member to accept,” he added.
The NYSC DG revealed furtherthat the Scheme established a distress call centre with a toll number of 6972 at the headquarters in Abuja where Corps members can call in case of emergency for the period of the election.
