TheCable

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure the protection of corps members in the forthcoming Edo gubernatorial election. 

INEC will customarily deploy corps members as ad hoc staff in the September 21 governorship poll.

During a familiarisation visit by Anugbum Onuoha, Edo state resident electoral commissioner (REC), to the NYSC office in Benin, Ifeoma Ben-Ushie, the Edo NYSC coordinator, said Registration Area Centres (RACs) should be made conducive for corps members. 

“Corps members have been doing the job satisfactorily along with the inspectors monitoring,” she said.

“The job has been done as it is supposed to be done but there are a few areas that INEC should look into — providing adequate security, conducive RACs and prompt payment of allowance, among others.

“The RACs should be made conducive with all basic amenities available for the comfort of the corps members. In most states, INEC abandons the corps members to themselves as soon as they finish the election.

“We would not want a situation where corps members are left alone because it is a threat to their lives, especially in volatile areas where there are conflicts.

“We want the RACs to be ready for them to pass the night. They should be picked up in the morning and please ensure that there are security personnel to protect them.

“Also ensure that at the end of the day, corps members are adequately returned so that they go back to their respective homes.”

Anugbum Onuoha, the REC, said the scheme is a critical stakeholder in the nation’s electoral process, adding that “we cannot do it alone, that is why we are here to partner with you”.

“I am here with my management team on a familiarisation visit. I resumed here in January and I thought that we needed to visit you because you are a critical stakeholder in our election process,” he said.

“The off season election in Edo has just started with the party congresses and the main election is in September.

“And it is important that we come and see you so that you are aware of what we are doing.

“We would be needing your corps members to assist us conduct the election that would be free, fair and credible and the people’s votes will count.”