Your participation in 2023 election Voluntary – Acting DG NYSC tells Corps Members
By Chima Azubuike
Acting Director-General of National Youth Service Corps NYSC Christy Uba, has said Corps members participation in the 2023 election especially as officials is voluntary.
Our Correspondent reports that previously corps members see operating as ad-hoc staff as their responsibility despite the emerging security threats.
Uba, made this disclosure on Thursday in her address at the temporary orientation camp Amada Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State.
The Acting Director-General is currently on a one-day visit to 2022 batch C stream II, whom are undergoing the mandatory three-week on camp training.
According to her, participation of corps members is not compulsory, stressing that for those whom have chosen to participate in the electioneering process they should neutral and ensure they get requisite training.
She stated that being a corps member is not a canopy to escape prosecution, noting that for electoral offenders they would be sent to custodial centre.
Uba said, “Participation is voluntary, but if you must participate get the trainings, but if you are not interested don’t bother be neutral and apolitical. You are a corps member first before anything else, because if you go foul of the law there is no concession for a corps member. If you carry ballot box for someone prison (custodial centre) straight.”
While urging them to be security conscious, Uba said they should work towards being honest in their dealings, harping the need to abhor crime.
“Security is everybody’s business. See something, say something be of good conduct, do not cut corners. Make up your mind to be honest in your dealings, attitude is everything, character is everything if you don’t have them you can’t go far.
“Be in charge of yourself and environment, shun cyber crime, cultism, some of you must have been into it but you can resolve to change,” Uba said.
The DG added, “Explore the service year and so that you can have experiences to share with your children. Participate in all camp activities particularly the skill acquisition, if you have not been participating you can start, it is better late than never.
“Every activities is free, including your relocation if anyone asks you to pay report to your coordinator she will handle it.”
Speaking in an interview with journalists, Uba, decried media reports following its claim about drugs and food shortage of corps members in Bauchi, adding that the scheme places premium on the welfare of corps members.
“The NYSC has been collaborating with NHIS, camp clinics are being manned by consultants they work together with corps doctors and drugs are made available. What I saw in Gombe here is a replica of what is in other camps, we are doing fine in that area,” Uba said.
On her part, the state coordinator Ada Imoni, lauded the support of the Acting Director-General, saying that her emergence was historic.
She enumerated the challenges of the temporary orientation camp to include water supply, power supply, while urging Uba to impress it on the state government to complete its permanent orientation camp at Boltongo, Yalmatu Deba of Gombe State.