By Elizabeth ADENUGA
The Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) has trained 7,804 corps members to serve as ad hoc staff during the Feb.16 and March 2, general elections in Niger.
NYSC Coordinator, Mrs Theresa Arokoyo, made this known at a news conference in Minna on Wednesday ahead of the forthcoming general elections.
She said that the corps members as well as staff of the scheme have been sensitised to their roles and their personal conduct during the exercise.
According to her, ahead of the 2019 general elections, the scheme had embarked on series of advocacy and held consultative meetings with stakeholders with regards to welfare and security of corps members to serve as ad hoc staff.
Arokoyo said that the state Director of Department of State Security Service, the state Commissioner of Police, the state Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Commander of the 31 Artillery Brigade had promised to make adequate provision for the security corps members and ensure peaceful elections.
She noted that the security agencies pledged to ensure that corps members are adequately protected, adding that they have been advised to be security conscious and apolitical.
“I have initiated several meetings with INEC Resident Commissioner, Prof. Sam Egwu, on electoral duties as it concerns corps members.
“REC assured me of the seamless execution of duties as far as deployment of corps members is concerned.
“INEC has made it optional for corps members to serve or not.
“The scheme has inspectors across the 25 local government areas mandated to monitor corps members participating in the exercise,” she said.
The coordinator noted that corps members have been advised to adhere to the rules and guidelines issued by INEC and always communicate with their zonal and local government inspectors during the election.
She advised corps members to resist the temptation of being induced by any political party and candidates.—–NAN
