•House of Representatives
The House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters has issued a firm directive to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), ordering the immediate payment of all outstanding insurance claims owed to National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members injured or killed while serving as ad hoc staff during elections.
The committee’s order came after a detailed presentation from the NYSC leadership, which disclosed that several Corps members affected during the 2023 general elections were yet to receive their entitled insurance benefits, reports Daily Independent.
Speaking on behalf of the NYSC Director-General today, the Director of Welfare, Omotade Ayodele Folorunsho, informed lawmakers that three Corps members, two in Ukwani, Delta State, and one in Akwa Ibom, were shot during the last general elections, with some left permanently disabled.
Folorunsho explained that while the NYSC had fulfilled its part of the insurance arrangement, the ₦1 million coverage stipulated in its MoU with INEC had not been paid. Although the electoral body provided medical support, he said the insured payout remained outstanding.
He lamented the recurring lapses in election planning that repeatedly expose Corps members to danger, noting that they are often inadequately protected and poorly catered for.
Emotionally recounting the traumatic events of the 2011 elections where 10 Corps members were murdered, Folorunsho said, “I was much younger in the service then, and arranging their burials fell on me. It is an experience that remains with me.”
He further highlighted the poor welfare conditions faced by Corps members during elections. According to him, they receive a meagre ₦4,000 for three to five days of training and ₦13,500 for election duty, often without decent lodging or basic amenities. Many, he said, end up sleeping on bare floors without access to water.
For better coordination and safety, he recommended transferring the deployment of Corps members for elections to the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), which participates in the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.
Following his submission, Rep. Alex Egbona moved a motion, unanimously adopted, directing INEC to ensure that the insurance firm responsible for its staff and ad hoc personnel pays all outstanding claims within four weeks.
Committee Chairman, Hon. Adebayo Balogun, praised the NYSC for its crucial role in Nigeria’s electoral process, describing Corps members as indispensable to election-day operations.
“For years, Corps members have been the engine that drives polling unit activities, ensuring transparency and smooth conduct of elections,” Balogun said. “Yet they continue to bear the greatest risks.”
He condemned the intimidation, violence and bribery attempts Corps members face during elections, stressing that some have suffered injuries or death while protecting the integrity of the ballot.
“This cannot continue. The life of any young Nigerian must never be sacrificed for an election,” he said. “Their safety, dignity and welfare must be treated as top priority.”
Balogun urged Nigerians and political actors to shift focus from debates about INEC leadership and pay more attention to the wellbeing of election workers on the ground.
“Elections are not won in Abuja or in party secretariats. They are decided at the polling units, where young Corps members stand in defence of democracy,” he said.
He pledged the committee’s readiness to pursue legislative and policy measures that will guarantee better protection, improved conditions and proper recognition for Corps members serving in election duties.
According to him, “Our democracy rests on the shoulders of these young Nigerians. Beyond appreciation, we owe them protection and a system that values their sacrifice.”
