The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has disclosed that the commission will recruit over 1.4 million members of the National Youth Service Corps for the 2027 general elections.
Chairman of INEC, Professor Joash Amupitan, on a courtesy visit to the Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle O. Nafiu, at the Yakubu Gowon House, headquarters of the NYSC, in Abuja, on Monday, said the meeting with the NYSC Senior Management team was an honour, noting that he was not just on a formal courtesy visit, but on a mission of profound gratitude.
According to him, in the complex architecture of Nigeria’s democracy, there is no pillar more vital than the NYSC.
He emphasised that corps members have participated in most election cycles since 1999, adding that INEC cannot conduct elections in Nigeria without the NYSC.
Prof. Amupitan stated that for the 2023 elections, INEC deployed approximately 1.2 million ad hoc staff, noting that it was a staggering fact that over 70 per cent of that massive workforce — nearly 850,000 individuals — were drawn from the ranks of the NYSC and student volunteers.
On the workforce required for the 2027 elections, the chairman said over 1.4 million ad hoc staff would be engaged, with corps members being in the majority as usual.
According to the INEC chairman, “For the 2027 general election, INEC would need 707,384 ad hoc staff for the Presidential and National Assembly elections on January 16, 2027; the same number would be required for the Governorship and Houses of Assembly election on February 6, 2027, making a total of 1,414,768.
Prof. Amupitan stressed that beyond the general elections, the corps contribution has been pivotal in off-cycle engagements, notably during the Anambra Governorship Election and the FCT Area Council polls.
He also acknowledged that the contribution of the corps members had often come at a heavy price, noting that the commission does not take this for granted.
He said the commission remained committed to working with the NYSC and security agencies to ensure that safety protocols are strictly enforced to protect every corps member on duty, adding, “We are constantly refining our insurance and welfare packages to reflect the value we place on their lives.”
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