NYSC distances self from its corps members toward endorsing politicians for 2023
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has distanced itself from political campaign posters depicting corps members that were allegedly going viral online.
In a statement released on Saturday and obtained by SaharaReporters, NYSC’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Eddy Megwa, stated that the organization’s members endorsing politicians are in violation of the law because the program involves ad hoc employees of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to NYSC, it is against the law for anyone who is not a corps member to wear the NYSC uniform. If found guilty, the offender faces up to six months in prison or a fine, according to Section 14 of the NYSC Act.
Part of the statement states, “The attention of NYSC Management has been called to a campaign poster circulating in social media, displaying several females in NYSC uniform ostensibly backing one of the political parties in the nation.
“The poster’s statement is in opposition to the scheme’s policy, which prevents corps members from displaying partisan involvement in politics.
“Additionally, it is a direct attack on the integrity of the Nigerian Youth Service Corps (NYSC), one of the electoral umpires who has worked with the Independent National Electoral Commission since 2008 to conduct elections in Nigeria.
“Management reiterates that the Scheme is still apolitical and neutral, free from any ties to political parties. The message that the poster fraudulently attempted to convey is completely at odds with the scheme’s stance.
“Management also desires to use this platform to remind the public that it is against the law for anyone who is not a Corps Member to wear the NYSC uniform, as stated in Section 14 of the NYSC Act. If found guilty, the offender faces up to a six-month prison sentence and/or a fine.
“The general public is hereby warned to disregard the information included in the poster, and Corps Members are sternly cautioned to adhere to the scheme’s policy that prevents them from displaying partisan interest in politics.”
SaharaReporters
