INEC: Why We May Need Over 1.4 Million NYSC personnel For 2027 Elections
The INEC delegation, which included national commissioners, directors, and senior officials, was received by the NYSC Director-General, Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, alongside members of the scheme’s management team at Yakubu Gowon House.
Speaking during the meeting, Amupitan described corps members as a critical part of Nigeria’s electoral process, noting that they had consistently remained the backbone of election operations since 1999.
According to him, the commission deployed nearly 1.2 million ad hoc workers during the 2023 general elections, with more than 70 percent of the workforce made up of corps members and student volunteers.
The INEC chairman further revealed that about 707,384 personnel would be required for the Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, while another 707,384 officials would be deployed for the Governorship and State Assembly elections fixed for February 6, 2027.
He added that additional manpower would also be needed for off-cycle governorship elections and bye-elections expected in states such as Ekiti State, Osun State, Nasarawa State, Enugu State, Rivers State, Ondo State, Kebbi State and Kano State.
Amupitan praised corps members for their neutrality, discipline, and digital competence, especially in operating the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
He stated that in several states, corps members accounted for nearly 90 percent of Registration Area Officers and Presiding Officers across polling units nationwide.
The INEC boss also acknowledged the risks associated with election duties and assured the NYSC leadership that efforts were ongoing to improve insurance coverage, welfare packages, and security arrangements for corps members involved in election assignments.
Responding, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu commended the longstanding partnership between both institutions, describing corps members as reliable and patriotic manpower for national assignments.
He assured INEC of the NYSC’s readiness to fully mobilise corps members and administrative personnel for the 2027 elections while also advocating improved welfare and compensation for those participating in election duties.
The NYSC Director-General further noted that the emergence of more digitally skilled Gen Z corps members could strengthen modern electoral operations and improve efficiency during future elections.
