The head of the National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, has appealed to the electoral commission to increase the compensation for corps members engaged as election workers. During a meeting with the INEC chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, at the NYSC headquarters in Abuja, Nafiu stressed that better pay would encourage more youth corps members to volunteer for election duties.
In addition to higher allowances, he demanded the swift payment of insurance benefits or medical aid for corps members who are killed or wounded while performing election-related tasks. He pointed out that the existing insurance coverage for corps members does not apply to election assignments, so they rely entirely on INEC’s provisions.
The NYSC chief also asked for the early release of the list of corps members assigned as electoral officers, arguing that this would enable the scheme to train and prepare them effectively before election day. He commended INEC for the security support extended to corps members during the recent Anambra governorship poll and expressed hope that such measures would continue.
Nafiu described corps members as exceptionally competent, impartial, quick to learn, and digitally skilled, making them ideal for ensuring credible elections. He reaffirmed the NYSC’s commitment to Nigeria’s democracy, noting that the partnership with INEC has been vital since 1999, with a formal pact signed in 2011 and renewed several times.
“We have enough manpower to assist INEC not only for the 2027 general elections but also for off-cycle polls this year,” Nafiu stated. He called on government agencies, NGOs, and individuals to back INEC’s efforts. “Our corps members are ready, and we take pride in INEC’s success because your success is ours,” he added.