By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
The Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission INEC Professor Mahmood Yakubu has assured the newly appointed Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier-General Yusha’u Dogara Ahmed of robust welfare package and adequate security protection for the Corp members who will serve as Polling Officers in the forthcoming general election.
Yakubu gave this assurance when the NYSC Boss paid a courtesy visit on him at the Commission’s Headquarters in Abuja. He told his guest that INEC holds the NYSC members in high esteem because of the service they render to the Commission and the nation.
The INEC Chairman therefore restated the commitment of the Commission to provide a robust Welfare package for the Corpers and guarantee adequate security protection for them to perform their duties without fear or favour.
Speaking further, Yakubu said Youth Corpers are kept in the Super Registration Area Councils (RACs) overnight before deployment to the Polling Units on election days, adding that adequate security is provided for the Youth Corpers in such occasions.
He also revealed that INEC has been holding consultative meetings with critical stakeholders including the security agencies and members of the various transport unions in Nigeria to provide adequate logistics for the Corpers.
Said he: “I want assure the DG NYSC that our Youth Corpers will be adequately taken care of. We have arranged the vehicles to take them to and from areas of deployments. We promise adequate safety for NYSC members.
“We will also ensure adequate training of the Corpers because this election is very important and we cannot afford to fail to deliver a free, fair, credible and inclusive polls in elections in Nigeria”, Yakubu assured.
He pledged that the Commission will abide by the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) already signed by both parties.
Earlier in his brief remarks, the NYSC Boss, said Corp members are enthusiastic to render national service during the forthcoming general elections, pointing out that he will ensure that the existing corporation between both federal government agencies continue to wax stronger.
The newly appointed DG assumed office on Monday when he took over from the Acting NYSC DG, Mrs. Christy Uba and at the handover ceremony in Abuja, he promised to take the organization to greater heights.
He also unveiled his five-point agenda anchored on security, good environment, strengthening stakeholders engagement, enhancement of capacity building and deepening of the impact of Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development.
