NYSC chief urges INEC to boost pay and benefits for corps members serving as election staff
Abuja, May 11 2026 – Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to increase the remuneration of corps members deployed as ad‑hoc election staff and to expedite the payment of insurance or medical benefits to those who are injured or killed in the performance of their duties.
General Nafiu made the appeal during a meeting with INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan, who visited the NYSC National Directorate Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, on Thursday. The NYSC chief said that better pay and swift benefit payouts would encourage more corps members to volunteer for electoral assignments and would enhance their commitment to the democratic process.
“The scheme has been an integral part of Nigeria’s elections since 1999, and the willingness of corps members to serve hinges on adequate incentives and protection,” General Nafiu told Amupitan. He also urged INEC to release the list of corps members slated to act as electoral officers as soon as possible so that NYSC can complete the requisite training and logistical preparations ahead of upcoming polls.
The NYSC, which began formally collaborating with INEC through a Memorandum of Understanding in 2011, has repeatedly renewed the pact to support the commission’s staffing needs. General Nafiu praised the partnership, describing corps members as “highly competent, credible, neutral and easily trainable individuals with strong digital proficiency” capable of safeguarding the credibility of elections when called upon.
In addition to the remuneration request, the NYSC chief highlighted a gap in the existing insurance coverage for corps members serving in elections. “The insurance we have for them does not cover this type of assignment; we consistently rely on the insurance that INEC provides during elections,” he said, emphasizing the need for a dedicated insurance scheme that addresses the unique risks associated with election duties.
General Nafiu also commended INEC’s security arrangements for corps members during the recent Anambra State governorship election, expressing hope that similar measures will be maintained in future contests. He reiterated NYSC’s readiness to support INEC not only for the 2027 general elections but also for the off‑cycle elections scheduled for later this year.
“We possess adequate manpower in the form of corps members who will offer essential support to INEC. We are fully prepared,” he declared, adding that the NYSC would mobilise “all forthcoming elections” and that the success of the commission reflected the success of the youth service scheme.
The director general concluded by appealing to other government ministries, non‑governmental organisations and private individuals to back INEC’s efforts to ensure credible elections. “NYSC is prepared and committed to sustaining the collaboration for credible elections and the development of Nigeria,” he said.
The meeting marks the latest step in ongoing cooperation between NYSC and INEC, a partnership that has been instrumental in staffing poll stations and election tribunals across the country for more than two decades. Both agencies appear poised to deepen that collaboration as Nigeria approaches a busy election calendar.
