The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enhance the remuneration and welfare package of Corps Members deployed as ad hoc staff during elections in Nigeria.
According to the Director of Information and Public Relations, Caroline Embu (Carol), in a statement issued on Monday, General Nafiu made the appeal during a courtesy visit by the INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, to the NYSC National Directorate Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja.
He also urged the electoral body to ensure timely payment of insurance benefits or medical support for Corps Members who may suffer injuries or lose their lives while performing election duties. According to him, improved welfare and prompt entitlements would boost morale and encourage greater commitment among Corps Members deployed for electoral assignments.
The NYSC DG further called on INEC to release the list of selected Corps Members early enough to allow adequate preparation and training before election day.
General Nafiu commended the long-standing collaboration between NYSC and INEC, noting that Corps Members have remained a critical pillar of Nigeria’s democratic process since 1999, with formalization of the partnership in 2011 through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
He described Corps Members as “highly competent, credible, neutral and digitally proficient” personnel capable of supporting credible elections across the country. He also praised INEC’s security arrangements during the recent Anambra State governorship election, expressing hope that similar measures would be sustained in future polls.
Reaffirming NYSC’s readiness for upcoming electoral activities, Nafiu said the Scheme would fully mobilize Corps Members for both off-cycle elections in 2026 and the 2027 general elections.
“We have sufficient manpower in terms of Corps Members that would provide necessary support for INEC not only for the 2027 general elections, but also the off-cycle elections coming up this year. We are on top of our game,” he said.
He, however, noted that existing insurance coverage for Corps Members does not adequately cover election-related risks, stressing reliance on INEC’s insurance arrangements during such assignments.
“We will continue to support INEC, but we also count on the insurance that INEC provides for Corps Members during elections,” he added.
In his response, INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan described Corps Members as the most reliable, educated, and patriotic category of election duty staff, noting that their neutrality has significantly strengthened public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.
He assured that INEC is continuously improving welfare and insurance packages for Corps Members, while working closely with NYSC and security agencies to ensure their safety during elections.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections scheduled for January and February, Amupitan disclosed that INEC would require over 1.4 million Corps Members to serve as electoral officers across polling units nationwide.
He explained that Corps Members account for a significant percentage of Registration Area Officers and Presiding Officers, playing a vital role in ensuring smooth voting operations in over 176,000 polling units across the country.
The INEC Chairman also commended Corps Members for their performance during recent elections, particularly highlighting their effective use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), which enhanced transparency and efficiency.
Amupitan reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to sustained partnership with NYSC for proper training, mobilisation, and deployment of ad hoc staff ahead of future elections, stressing that collaboration remains essential for credible and peaceful polls.
“Our goal is to guarantee a well-organised, efficient and peaceful electoral process, and this can only be achieved through collaboration, commitment and shared responsibility,” he said.
