Elections
By Temitope Salami
Sagamu (Ogun), May 9, 2018 (NAN) The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) says it is planning to engage corps members in door-to-door sensitisation of the electorate ahead of the 2019 general elections.
The NYSC State Coordinator in Ogun, Mr John Okpo, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Sagamu.
Okpo said the move was aimed at preventing voters’ apathy in rural areas and ensuring a successful conduct of the polls.
According to him, corps members are vital components of the electioneering process and have been asked to perform their roles without being partisan.
“The NYSC’s agenda in the elections is simple; to ensure free flow and fairness during the polls.
“ Election is a call to duty to protect Nigeria’s democracy and promote unity which is why we place high importance on the conduct of corps members serving during the exercise.
“The NYSC is collaborating with the Independent National Elections Commission (INEC) who were at the orientation camps nationwide to give lectures and sensitise corps members in preparedness for the polls.
“We have already drawn plans for our corps members to begin rural door-to-door sensitisation on what the electorate need to do to exercise their civic duty.
“High importance is placed on the Permanent Voters Card (PVC); so the starting point is to raise massive awareness for registration and collection of cards,” he said.
The NYSC boss added that strict warnings had been given to the corps members not to be involved in dishonest acts during the elections or allow themselves to be used by politicians for mischief.
“We have told them that they are the image of the nation and must not be involved in anything that will damage the image of the scheme,” Okpo said.
The Ogun Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Mr Afolabi Afuape, also told NAN that the state government would support the NYSC to ensure success during the 2019 elections.
“The involvement of corps members in the polls is very vital as they play a critical role.
“However, the corps members need adequate orientation on what it means to uphold their integrity and maintain diligence while performing their tasks.
“The coming elections can make or mar the image of the country, so it is important they play by the rules.
“As government, we cannot be directly involved in the NYSC’s preparations but we will do what we should do in terms of providing logistics and security, ” Afuape said.
The commissioner commended the 2018 Batch ‘A’ corps members, who concluded their orientation exercise at the camp, urging them to be good ambassadors of the scheme.
NAN reports that a total of 2,513 corps members, including 1,161 males and 1, 352 females, concluded the orientation course and received their letters of posting to their places of primary assignments. (NAN)
TDS/OJO
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(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)