Rep. Ukpong-Udo said it was only proper to provide employment for corps members, who were victims of the election violence as compensation for their sacrifice and patriotism.
The House of Representatives has called for the compensation of members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), who were violently attacked, while they served as ad-hoc staff with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the 2023 general elections.
This is even as it directed the electoral body to provide a list of members of the Corps who worked as its ad hoc staff during the elections.
The call follows the adoption of a motion titled; “Employment of Corps Members Who Were Victims of Election Violence into the Civil Service or Independent National Electoral Commission” on Wednesday.
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The sponsor of the motion, Rep. Emmanuel Ukpong–Udo, (YPP, Akwa Ibom), noted that about 200,000 Youth Corps members served as Ad-hoc staff to assist in elections.
This number, according to him, makes up 80% of the INEC Ad-hoc staff.
He also noted that the Ad-hoc staff participated in the Presidential and National Assembly Elections on February 25, 2023, followed by Governorship and House of Assembly Elections on March 11, 2023, and April 15, 2023, for supplementary elections.
The lawmaker further recalled that some of the scheme members sustained injuries from gunshots and machetes, during the elections, adding that “despite the threats they faced, they remained committed to ensuring that the 2023 elections were conducted in accordance with their assigned roles.
“Considering their sacrifice for this important National Assignment there is a need to employ the corps members who were victims of the election violence to compensate for their losses and encourage future participation,” he said.
Consequently, the House tasked the Federal Character Commission and the Federal Civil Service Commission to provide jobs for the corps members, who assisted INEC in the election in the general, governorship, and supplementary elections.
It also directed the FEC to consider the employment of the NYSC members in the public service.
It further mandated its Committees on Federal Character, Public Service, and Electoral Matters to ensure compliance.
