Bello seeks more protection for corps member on election duty

Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger has called on security agencies in the country to do more in ensuring Corps members on election duty are kept safe during the 2019 polls.

Bello, represented by the Commissioner for Water Resources, Alhaji Mamman Bosso, made the call on Thursday at the opening ceremony of the 2018 NYSC Batch C orientation course in Paikoro Local Government Area.

He stated that corps members would only be better positioned to discharge their responsibility as non-partisan ad-hoc staff of INEC when they feel safe.

“You are coming at a time the political activities in the country is gathering momentum.

“This means some of you will be engaged in the electioneering process.

“I therefore call on security agencies to ensure corps members are kept safe at all times, especially during the forthcoming general elections.

“It is true that there has been remarkable improvement in the response of security agencies to corps members on election duties.

“As much as this is commendable, the security agencies need to do more, as they would only give their best when they feel safe,” he added.

Bello enjoined the youths to see themselves as agents of change who are critical to the sustenance of the country’s democracy.

According to him, the NYSC as an instrument of national unity has over the years continued to forge socio-cultural ties across different ethno-cultural divides of Nigeria.

Earlier in her remarks, the State Coordinator of NYSC, Mrs Theresa Arokoyo, said a total of 1,982 corps members had so far reported to camp.

Arokoyo maintained that the youths had a moral obligation to justify the huge resources government was expending on the scheme to ensure a secured future for them.

She appealed to the state government to come to the scheme’s aid by ensuring the completion of the permanent orientation camp in the state.

“May I express my gratitude to the government and people of Niger state for the support and provision of an enabling environment for the scheme to carry out its mandate in the state.

“However, I humbly wish to remind the executive governor that the completion of the permanent orientation camp is still an issue of great concern to NYSC,” she said.