2023: Snatch ballot box, go to jail, NYSC tells corp members

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has warned serving corps members against partaking in any form of electoral malpractices in the forthcoming general elections.

The Acting Director-General of the NYSC, Mrs Christy Uba, who gave the warning during working visit to the temporary Orientation Camp in Amada, Akko Local Government Area, said any corps member found wanting shall be prosecuted according to law.

She said that the NYSC scheme had played a critical role in conducting elections in the country over the years in collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Uba added that any corps member that involved in any form of electoral offence would face the wrath of the law as stipulated in the 2022 Electoral Act.

While enjoining the corps members to be apolitical during the election, the acting director general emphasised that it is not compulsory to participate in the elections.

She said, “If you must participate in the electoral process, you are encouraged to remain neutral and apolitical. Do not involve yourself in politics; you are corps members and you have a duty to your country; you have to be careful.

“If you fall foul of the law, you will be treated as any other Nigerian. There is no cover for corps members; when you carry a ballot box for anybody; you will go straight to prison.”

Uba further stated that all corps members who indicated interest in participating in elections would be given the required training by the NYSC and INEC officials.

She, therefore, advised all those participating in the 2023 elections to go through the training to get the required knowledge to conduct the exercise successfully.

The acting director general also debunked allegations that clinics in some camps in the country lacked medical supplies, stating that “the welfare of all corps members across the country is always given high priority.”

“Their feeding, health, and wellbeing is not negotiable; we collaborate with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and I can tell you drugs are always made available,” she added.

(Daily Trust)