By Mercy Aikoye
The House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure immediate payment of insurance claims for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members injured or killed during elections.
The NYSC Director-General, represented by Director of Welfare, Omotade Ayodele Folorunsho, revealed that two corps members were shot in Ukwani, Delta State, and one in Akwa Ibom State, leaving them with permanent disabilities.
Despite the NYSC covering medical expenses, the N1 million insurance cover stipulated in the Memorandum of Understanding between NYSC and INEC remains unpaid. Folorunsho lamented that poor arrangements have always characterized the conduct of elections, leaving corps members vulnerable.
Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Adebayo Balogun, emphasized that the security, welfare, and dignity of corps members must not be negotiable. “No election is worth the life of even one young Nigerian,” he stressed.
The committee has directed INEC to prevail on the insurance company to pay the premium of the affected corps members within four weeks. Balogun urged that the welfare of corps members be prioritized, saying, “We owe them more than appreciation; we owe them protection, dignity, and a system that values their sacrifice.”
Balogun emphasized the need to re-examine the conditions under which corps members participate in elections. “We must re-examine their security, their compensation, their training, their insurance coverage, their logistical support, and their overall well-being,” he said.
Folorunsho shared a traumatic experience from the 2011 elections, where 10 serving corps members were killed. “I was much younger in the service then, and the responsibility of arranging the burial of these corps members fell on my shoulder,” he said, recalling the incident with visible emotion.
Folorunsho disclosed that corps members are often poorly renumerated. “They are paid ₦4,000 for three to five days of training and ₦13,500 for election day duty. In most cases, these corps members don’t even have a place to sleep. Some of them sleep on bare floors and the following day, they don’t even have water to bathe,” he said.
The committee’s directive includes ensuring that insurance claims are paid within four weeks. Balogun urged that the welfare of corps members be prioritized, saying, “We can strengthen our democracy by strengthening the people who administer it at the grassroots.”
Folorunsho suggested that the deployment of corps members be handled by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), given its role in the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.
Balogun emphasized that strengthening democracy begins with protecting the individuals who administer it at the grassroots level. “The strength of our democracy rests on the shoulders of young Nigerians who stand at the polling units with courage and integrity,” he said.
The committee’s directive is a step in the right direction towards improving the welfare of corps members. It remains to be seen how INEC and the insurance company will respond to the directive.
The House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters’ directive marks a significant step towards addressing the welfare concerns of NYSC members participating in elections. By prioritizing their safety and well-being, the committee aims to ensure that these young Nigerians can continue to serve their country without fear.
The welfare of corps members is crucial to the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system. By prioritizing their safety and well-being, the government can strengthen democracy and ensure that the voting process is transparent, orderly, and credible.
