Adamawa Elections: NYSC Wants INEC To Provide Bullet-Proof Vests And Armed Escorts For Corp Members

In preparation for next month Governorship election in Adamawa state, the National Youth Service Corps has said that it would not released serving youth corps member if certain conditions are not fulfilled.

The Vanguard gathered that the conditions include provision of bullet-proof vests, armed escorts and payment of attractive allowances.

 

The source also stated that the release of Corps members would be voluntary as the Director General is not willing to lose corps members during the election.The NYSC boss was said to have insisted that the issue of adequate security for corps members should not be handled with kid-gloves.

The source further stated that the number of corps members currently serving in Adamawa State are not enough for the conduct of the election adding that there would be need to mobilise   corps members from neighbouring states for the polls.

 

Speaking on the matter, Mr Kayode Idowu, the Special Adviser on Media to Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega said INEC shares the sensitivity of Nigerians who are apprehensive over the deployment of corpers in the state given the high level of insecurity prevailing there.

“There is no responsible organisation that would deliver innocent youths into the lion’s den.”
He explained that if corpers were to be deployed as adhoc staff for the polls, “ it would be based on the guarantee that they are secured; otherwise, INEC would not expose them to danger. If both INEC and NYSC   are convinced that they are secured, then the corpers would be deployed.We would consult the NYSC.”

 

“The collaboration has taken a depth that is unusual. In Osun, we didn’t have enough corpers. However, the Director-General of NYSC, mobilized corpers from the surrounding states to handle the last election.

“The NYSC released the corpers to us because their safety and welfare was guaranteed. When people complain about militarization of elections, this is one of the reasons why it happens. This is because we need adequate security for men, materials and voters.”