THE National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has issued a warning to its current corps members urging them not to engage in any election rigging during the next general elections.
Any corps member found wanting will be prosecuted in accordance with the law, the acting director-general of the NYSC, Mrs. Christy Uba, cautioned during a working visit to the temporary orientation camp in Amada, Akko Local Government Area.
According to her, the Independent National Electoral Commission and the NYSC program have worked together throughout the years to hold elections in the nation (INEC).
Uba further stated that any corps member who participated in any electoral offense will be subject to the full force of the law as outlined in the 2022 Electoral Act.
The acting director general emphasized that participation in the elections is not compulsory while advising the corps members to remain apolitical throughout the election.
She said, “If you must participate in the electoral process, you are encouraged to remain neutral and apolitical. Do not involve yourself in politics; you are corps members and you have a duty to your country; you have to be careful.
“If you fall foul of the law, you will be treated as any other Nigerian. There is no cover for corps members; when you carry a ballot box for anybody; you will go straight to prison.”
Uba added that NYSC and INEC officials will provide all corps members who expressed interest in elections with the necessary training.
She consequently recommended everyone running in the elections in 2023 to attend the training in order to get the necessary information to carry out the activity successfully.
The acting director general also debunked allegations that clinics in some camps in the country lacked medical supplies, stating that “the welfare of all corps members across the country is always given high priority.”
“Their feeding, health, and wellbeing is not negotiable; we collaborate with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and I can tell you drugs are always made available,” she added.
