By Joe Ekel
The Chairman of the Independent
National Electoral Commission, Independent National Electoral Commission,
Professor Joash Amupitan, has praised members of the National Youth Service
Corps for their dedication and important role in Nigeria’s electoral process.
Speaking in Abuja during a
visit by the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier
General OO Nafiu, the INEC chairman described Corps members as hardworking,
intelligent and patriotic young Nigerians who have continued to earn the trust
of voters across the country.
According to Amupitan, the
presence of NYSC members at polling centres has greatly helped to strengthen
public confidence in elections because many Nigerians see them as neutral
officials who carry out their duties without bias.
He said INEC remains fully
committed to working closely with the NYSC and security agencies to ensure the
safety of every Corps member involved in election duties.
The chairman explained that the
Commission has continued to improve welfare and insurance packages for ad hoc
staff, especially Corps members, because of the important responsibilities they
handle during elections.
Amupitan also stressed the need
for proper preparation ahead of the 2027 general elections, noting that the
role of the NYSC would again be crucial to the success of the polls.
He revealed that more than
707,000 Corps members would be needed for the Presidential and National
Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027. He added that the same
number would also be required for the Governorship and State Assembly elections
fixed for February 6, 2027.
According to him, this would
bring the total number of Corps members expected to participate in both
elections to over 1.4 million.
The INEC chairman further
disclosed that in many states, Corps members made up almost 90 per cent of
Registration Area Officers and Presiding Officers during previous elections.
He commended their efforts in
managing voting activities and protecting the integrity of the ballot in more
than 176,000 polling units, including areas that are difficult to access.
Amupitan also applauded the
performance of Corps members during the Anambra governorship election and the
FCT Area Council polls, saying their digital knowledge played a major role in
the successful operation of the BVAS machine.
He assured Nigerians that INEC
would continue to partner with the NYSC to properly train and prepare election
workers for future polls, adding that peaceful and credible elections can only
succeed through teamwork, commitment and cooperation.
Post a Comment