The National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, is an indispensable youth organisation associated with credible elections in Nigeria, the Director, NYSC, Southwest Area Office, Mr. Emmanuel Danjuma Attah, has asserted.
Attah made the assertion when he paid a courtesy call on Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Independent National Electoral Commission, Dr. Rufus Oloruntoyin Akeju, in his office.
“Resident Electoral Commissioner Sir, it is an incontrovertible fact that NYSC since her involvement in electoral process has made huge and tangible contributions which have earned INEC accolades worldwide,” he said.
Attah who had earlier served as State Coordinator in Taraba and Osun states respectively before his elevation to the position of Director pleaded with his host to improve on the sanitary conditions at Registration Area Centres (RACs) so that corps members could give their best.
According to him, during the last elections in Nigeria, most of the RACs were not properly managed and even the rooms provided fell short of the expectations of decent accommodation, “and this did not give your Commission deserved applause.”
The NYSC boss reiterated that the security and welfare of corps members were paramount and should be treated with utmost respect and priority.
He said on the part of the NYSC, it would give unflinching support and commitment towards realisation of INEC assignment by deploying committed corps members to serve as ad-hoc staff during elections.
He harped on the memorandum of understanding where it was stated that corps members on electoral duty would not be posted to riverine areas.
Attah said that he had implicit trust and absolute confidence in INEC to organise a credible and successful gubernatorial election in Ondo State come October, 2020.
In his response, Akeju said that no good election could hold without the involvement of the NYSC.
He thanked Attah for the visit and promised to critically look at all the requests placed before the commission.
Akeju disclosed that security personnel that would be engaged for the gubernatorial election would be specifically trained on their roles by INEC.
“Let me allay your fears by telling you that the Commission has prepared security pamphlet for members of Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies that would take part in the election.
“INEC is not unaware of security breaches perpetrated by those who are supposed to protect lives and properties during the last election, but I want to assure you that we have put necessary corrections in place to ensure success,” he said.
High point of the visit was the presentation of souvenir to the Resident Electoral Commissioner while INEC gave publications that would assist the electorate and ad-hoc staff to the Director, Southwest Area Office.
