NYSC To Mobilise 10,000 Corps Members For Election In Enugu

The Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Enugu State, Ahmed Ikaka during a courtesy call on him by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Enugu, Mr Emeka Ononamadu, says no fewer than 10,000 corps members will be mobilised for the forthcoming general elections in the state.

He said the NYSC was conscious of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it signed with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as regards deployment of corps members for election purposes.

The NYSC coordinator said that the management of the scheme in the state had done enough to insulate corps members that would participate in the exercise from partisanship.

He said that that they were conscious of the fact that some politicians would desire to circumvent the process but would do enough to check such excesses.

“We know that the credibility of the process will be at stake. Therefore, the neutrality of corps members will come into play.

“We have imbibed the culture of honesty, good conduct and sincerity in our corps members. These are what we need for credible and peaceful elections in Nigeria,” he said.

Ikaka said that about 10, 500 corps members are serving in the state.

“We need to go round the state to mobilise our people,” he said.

He said that there was nothing to fear in terms of security of corps members during the exercise as according to him “Enugu State is peaceful.

“But we still pray that security operatives will do their best. We allay the fears of our corps members and urge our Local Government Coordinators to start the mobilisation,” he said.

Ikaka called for a closer collaboration between INEC staff and their counterparts in the NYSC for a smooth process in the state.

“There should be trust between INEC Electoral Officers and NYSC staff during the election. We must work together to give Nigerians the credible elections they deserve,” Ikaka said.

Earlier, Ononamadu said that the electoral body needed about 17, 000 ad hoc staff in the state for the elections.

Ononamadu said that out of the number, 10, 000 would be drawn among corps members serving in the state.

He, however, said that they had only registered 7,300 corps members, adding that more corps members were needed.

The REC said that corps members that served in 2017 were also eligible to apply.

He said that it would be difficult for politicians to introduce thugs as corps members if the number they needed were got from the management.

Ononamadu said that the number of ad hoc staff needed in the state increased due to a corresponding increase in the number of voters registered in the state.

He said that corps members in the state had always been useful and with good conducts when mobilised for election purposes.

“During the governorship election in Anambra, corps members that were drafted from Enugu State did very well.

“We believe they will do better now because the level of contestation in this state is not as weird as they are in other states. We have peace in this state,” he said.

He said that members of staff of the NYSC would also be deployed in certain supervisory roles to serve as morale booster for the corps members.