Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has stated that the 2023 general elections will take place as planned.
Yakubu stated yesterday at the Commission’s reception of the new Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig. General Yushu’a Dogara Ahmed, that INEC has no plans to postpone any of the polls scheduled for February 25 and March 11.
In response to media reports of a supposed planned prolongation of the elections, the INEC chairman provided no details but promised the NYSC DG the safety of corps members to be mobilized for the polls as well as an increase in their allowance.
INEC and the NYSC leadership had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the deployment of graduates on the mandated one-year national service as ad hoc personnel during the general elections.
Yakubu stated that, in addition to ensuring protection for the youths who will be deployed to work at Polling Units, the Commission, in partnership with security agencies, is taking a keen interest in their safety while at the various NYSC camps around the country.
The NYSC administration had previously called for a reconsideration of the allowances granted to corps members during elections. The newly appointed NYSC DG also acknowledged the increase in corps members’ allowance ahead of the elections.
