22nd November 2025
The House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters has threatened to sanction the Independent National Electoral Commission if it fails to settle outstanding insurance claims owed to National Youth Service Corps members injured or killed while serving as ad hoc staff during elections.
The directive followed a presentation on Friday by the NYSC leadership, which revealed that insurance benefits for corps members affected during the 2023 general elections had yet to be paid despite existing agreements.
Represented by the Director of Welfare, Omotade Folorunsho, the NYSC Director-General, Brig. Gen. Olakunle Nafiu, informed the committee that three corps members—two in Delta State and one in Akwa Ibom—were shot during the elections, with some now living with permanent disabilities.
He explained that while the NYSC had fulfilled its insurance obligations, INEC had yet to honour the N1m coverage stipulated in the Memorandum of Understanding between both agencies.
Although INEC covered medical expenses, the insurance payouts remain unreleased,” she said.
Folorunsho raised concerns over recurring lapses in election preparation that place corps members at risk.
He recalled that young corps members were often deployed to volatile areas with minimal protection and welfare support.
Citing the 2011 elections, he noted that 10 corps members were murdered while serving as presiding officers, underscoring the long-standing dangers faced by frontline election staff.
He also highlighted poor remuneration and harsh working conditions, pointing out that corps members earn only ₦4,000 for training lasting up to five days and ₦13,500 for election-day deployment.
“Many sleep on bare floors, lack clean water, and operate in insecure environments with insufficient logistical support,” she lamented.
Folorunsho recommended that corps member deployment be coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser, which already sits on the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.
Following the NYSC presentation, Alex Egbona moved a motion—adopted unanimously—directing INEC to compel the relevant insurance provider to settle all pending claims within four weeks or face sanctions.
The Committee Chairman, Adebayo Balogun, commended the NYSC for its role in elections, describing corps members as indispensable to the country’s electoral process.
Balogun appealed that the safety and dignity of corps members be prioritised.
0 Comments