The House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately ensure the payment of insurance premiums due to National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members who were injured or died while participating in elections.

The committee issued the directive on Friday following a presentation by the Director General of the NYSC, who revealed that insurance claims for corps members injured during the 2023 general elections remain unpaid.

The DG was represented by the Director of Welfare, Omotade Ayodele Folorunsho.

Folorunsho disclosed that two corps members were shot during the 2023 elections in Ukwani Local Government Area of Delta State, while one was similarly attacked in Akwa Ibom State, leaving them with permanent disabilities.

He noted that although, the NYSC had shouldered the insurance and hospital bills of the victims, the N1 million insurance cover stipulated in the Memorandum of Understanding between the Corps and INEC had yet to be paid.

He lamented the recurring poor treatment of corps members deployed for election duty, saying they are often left vulnerable and unsupported. He recounted how 10 corps members were killed during the 2011 general election.

Folorunsho also descried the poor remuneration and welfare conditions faced by corps members during elections.

“They are paid N4,000 for three to five days of training and N13, 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.

He proposed that the deployment of corps members during elections be handled by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), given its role in the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, to enhance their safety.

Following the presentation, a committee member, Hon. Alex Egbona, moved a motion unanimously adopted, directing INEC to prevail on the insurance company responsible for the corps members’ and staff’s electoral insurance to pay the outstanding premiums within four weeks.

Speaking earlier, Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Adebayo Balogun, described corps members as indispensable partners in safeguarding the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process.

“For decades, corps members have formed the backbone of election day operations across the federation. They carry the burden of ensuring that voting is transparent, orderly, and credible,” he said.

Balogun decried the dangers faced by corps members at polling units, where intimidation, harassment, financial inducement, and sometimes fatal attacks have become commonplace.

“No election is worth the life of even one young Nigerian. The security, welfare, and dignity of corps members must not be negotiable,” he said.

He said the nation must revisit and improve the conditions under which corps members participate in elections, including their security, compensation, training, insurance, logistics, and general welfare.

______________________________________________________________________ “Artificial Intelligence for Lawyers: A Comprehensive Guide”, authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe Esq., ACiarb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director at the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria. How to Order: 📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878 📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com 🌎 Website: www.benadigwe.com Ebook Version: Access it directly online at https://selar.com/prv626     ______________________________________________________________________ Explore Nigeria’s Constitutional System — 17 Chapters, 924 Pages Of Insight By Prof. Hagler Sunny Okorie
“Constitutional Law and Constitutionalism in Nigeria” By Prof. Hagler Sunny Okorie
Call to Order Your Copy: 📞 0803 766 7945 | 0802 863 6615 | 0803 225 3813 ✉️ haglersoco@gmail.com 🏢 Winners Chambers, 135 Ehi Road, Aba, Abia State ______________________________________________________________________ “Timely And Groundbreaking” — Babalola, Nnawuchi Release Casebook On Privacy & Data Protection In NigeriaA timely new publication, Casebook on Privacy & Data Protection in Nigeria, co-authored by Olumide Babalola and Uchenna Nnawuchi, 📘 Casebook on Privacy & Data Protection in Nigeria is now available on Amazon: https://a.co/d/8TmFZrd ______________________________________________________________________ The books are available for purchase at: Online: www.educodex.com | www.selar.com | www.amazon.com | www.mikeozekhome.com Enquiries: +234 704 044 9375 | +234 814 813 4773 | +234 816 872 3532 Email: educodexl@gmail.com ______________________________________________________________________

[A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials

“Evidence Act: Complete Annotation” by renowned legal experts Sanni & Etti.
Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation ______________________________________________________________________ “Your Must-Have Legal Classic” — 225-Page Hardback Offering The Definitive Guide To Electoral Security In Nigeria And The U.S. Edited by Dr. Akin Olawale Oluwadayisi, Ph.D; ACIArb, FIPDM, Notary Public, Awi Boluwaji, and Olumide Awoyemi, LL.M, Price: ₦20,000 or $20 per copy Order Your Copy Now:📧 Email: benakollegalclassics@gmail.com,📱 WhatsApp: 07038211889, 📞 Voice Call: 07065830466 | +2347038211889 ______________________________________________________________________