Members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, who form the bulk of ad hoc staff recruited by the Independent National Electoral Commission for the general elections, have been warned to resist “any temptation” to manipulate the elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, and Director-General of the NYSC, Bri.-Gen. Johnson Olawunmi, gave the counsel Friday during a joint press conference in Abuja.
“Resist any temptation that may hinder Nigeria’s democracy and economic development”, Jega and Olawumi said jointly.
“It is expected that you will handle this critical responsibility with high sense of patriotism.
“Resist temptation that will destroy your name, the name of your school, the name of your family and the NYSC”, they said.
They assured the corps members, as well as students of tertiary institutions, who are also part of the INEC ad hoc staff, of adequate welfare and security.
Mr. Olawumi added that measures had been put in place to ensure the NYSC responds to emergency situations involving corps members anywhere in the country.
He added that non-payment of allowances was a thing of the past, adding that their monthly stipends had been paid since Thursday to “ensure corps members have money in their pockets and not be at the mercy of anybody during the elections”.
Mr. Jega said INEC would support any mechanism “within the laws” by the security agencies, to protect the elections.
He added that the results of the elections would be announced within 48 hours just as he reiterated INEC’s position that voters can stay back to monitor the counting of vots in their polling units.
“We believe it will enhance the transparency of the elections if people wait to see how the votes will be counted.
“The voters should decide what they want whether they want to stay or go or adhere to the security advice by the Inspector General of Police”, he said.
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