2023: Execute your civic responsibility in line with electoral act – NYSC tells corps members

…as Gbagyi emerges as the winner of NYSC cultural carnival in Kaduna

From Sola Ojo, Kaduna

Again, the leadership of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on Saturday told corps members who are to serve as Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had-hoc staff in the forthcoming elections to execute their civic responsibility in line with the provision of the 2022 amended electoral law.

To the scheme, the law would take its course against any corps member found wanting of going against any provision therein.

Fielding questions from the newsmen at the sideline of the 2023 batch ‘A’ (stream I) cultural carnival held at Government College, Kurmi Mashi, Kaduna, the Coordinator of the scheme in the State, Mr. Agbor Ndoma Obim added that corps members would not be posted to political hot spot by the INEC.

According to him, “as had-hoc staff of INEC, we expect our corps members to be impartial and not to be partisan. They should execute their civic responsibility in line with the provision of the electoral act 2022.

“This is important because the law will take its course if any of them is found wanting. They need to do their job with a high sense of responsibility.

“They have been trained on what to do in case of any eventuality during the elections. In case any of the politicians want to create any problem, they should not drag but hand over materials in their possession to them because their lives are more important.

“However, we have intimated to INEC that Corps members should not be deployed to volatile areas where their security is not guaranteed.

“So, the corps members are aware that their security is paramount not just to themselves or the scheme but even to the INEC and Nigeria as a whole”, he said.

On the cultural carnival, he said, “one of the essences of the creation of the NYSC is national integration and unity. So this cultural carnival which is a part of the orientation camp is to showcase our rich cultural heritage because these corps members came from different ethnic backgrounds.

“At the end of the day, this rich cultural showcase will increase our national unity and integration”.

Ten platoons representing Benin, Tiv, Igala, Fulani, Hausa, Efik, Yoruba, Igbo, Gbagyi, and Nupe ethnic nationalities displayed their rich cultural heritage at the carnival.

Platoon nine representing Gbagyi ethnic nationality came first while platoon four representing Fulani ethnic nationality came second and platoon three representing Igala ethnic nationality came third.