The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has called for a review of the allowances of corps members amidst the current economic situation in Nigeria.
During a visit by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu in Abuja on Friday, NYSC acting Director-General, Mrs Christy Uba said that Corps members are eager to participate in the 2023 general election.
She described the meeting with the INEC Chairman as timely, stressing that the NYSC was committed to the partnership with the Commission.
She said: “A lot has been achieved. The corps members are ready. The youths are very interested and it is expected that everyone that is part of the Committee will go back and cross the t’s and dot the i’s.
“Also I want to say that NYSC is committed to the partnership with INEC, we have come a long way and we cannot go back, a lot has been achieved”.
She noted that in the preparation for the 2023 general elections, the NYSC has taken several steps: “We have directed state coordinators to encourage Corps members to register on the INEC portals; the Corps welfare and health service department is expected to visit the states to assure Corps members and Staff of the commitment of the INEC and NYSC of their safety while on election duties this is to further encourage them given the situation we have found ourselves in this country.
“Also, the DG has also directed state coordinators to compile names and addresses of Corps lodges on a local government basis for effective security coverage this is where data plays a vital role; they are expected to compile names and phone numbers of key security personnel in the state and local governments to ensure the security of Corps members because the INEC Chairman has just said that they play very important roles during the country’s election process.
“I am glad that INEC is fine-tuning the resources with modern technologies to ensure efficiency; we have ordered state coordinators to liaise with DSS (Department of State Services) and other security agencies to identify crisis-prone areas”.
She also stated that “in view of the prevailing economic realities, the Chairman should look at the conditions of the REC and solvable improvement as contained in the MOU, and to know that the issues of general insecurity have taken toll of the NYSC especially as it regards deployment and relocation of Corps members in some of the States in the core North, INEC should look into it and take drastic cautions.
“Necessary updates have been done on the sensitization manuals, as INEC is updating NYSC is also updating, and soft and hard copies will soon be forwarded to INEC for production, we need to move with time”.
