Edo gov poll: INEC must guarantee security of NYSC members - DG

THE Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigaider-General Nnamdi Okore-Affia, has said he would request the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to guarantee the safety of the NYSC members to be used during the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State.He said this on Thursday, while briefing journalists at the Newsworld Magazine forum, in Abuja.The NYSC boss said if the INEC would not give the guarantee, youth corps members would not be deployed for election purpose in Edo State.Brigadier-General Okore-Affia said the decision was a reflection of the premium the management of the NYSC placed on the life of members of the scheme posted to different parts of the country.He said following the killing of members of the NYSC in Bauchi State, after they had served as ad hoc staff for INEC during the April 2011 election, the NYSC had taken a number of measures to enhance the safety of the corps members.One of such measures, he said, was the setting up of a distress call centre at the headquarters of the NYSC in Abuja, where corps members in danger could call to get instant assistance.The centre which, he said, was functional, had, however, not received any call of threat to life by any NYSC member, although some corps members used it to call for financial help.Another safety measure, according to him, was the training of female corps members in martial art, as they were being trained to defend themselves when threatened.
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