As the nation marches into the 2023 general election on Saturday, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has charged the corps members to put their safety first, even has the scheme unveils a distress code number for their safety.
The Scheme also revealed that over 200,000 corps members will be participating in the elections as Independent National Electoral Commissions (INEC) ad-hoc staff.
Briefing the journalists covering the scheme in Abuja, Tuesday, the Director General, Brig.- Gen Dogara Ahmed, said all the security agencies in the country had assured of their readiness to prioritise the safety of the Corp members on election duty.
He said the rapid response code 6972 have been given to the Corps members for any emergency as staff will be on duty 24 hours to respond to any distress call during the election.
Ahmed said the corps members had been trained to think of their safety first and have also been warned neither to be partisan nor collect any form of gift such as money or food from the politicians or any political party.
“The Corps Members have been wonderful in previous elections and this will not be an exception as they have been properly trained and are ever ready to do the nation proud again.
“The Corps members have been reminded to carry out their duties within the ambit of the law and in line with INEC rules and regulations.
“I have visited all the heads of the security agencies and assurances have been given that Corps members’ security both on election duty and in their lodges will be prioritised.
“And the Corps members have been informed to think of their safety first in the case of any threat and report back to INEC.
“Even those that are not on election duty have also been given security tips and told on what to do in the case of any distress,” he said.
