The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Osun State has firmly rejected calls for the termination of its Memorandum of Understanding with the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Dr Mutiu Agboke, made the position known on Wednesday, February 11, during a courtesy visit by the Osun State NYSC leadership, led by its Coordinator, Ekeng Ita Kubiangha.
Agboke described the calls for the scrapping of the agreement as baseless and harmful, arguing that they were designed to undermine electoral duties.
“It is a nonsensical talk for any Nigerian to say INEC should discontinue with the MOU between NYSC and ASUU,” he said.
“The synergy between INEC and NYSC should be maintained and sustained.
“Such calls is not only un-Nigerian by also unpatriotic. People will bastardise the job for you with talks of what corps members experience on election day.”
He stressed that corps members deployed for electoral assignments were adequately protected, adding that both INEC and NYSC shared responsibility for proper training.
“The training should be rejigged. Let us take another look at it,” Agboke said.
The REC also cautioned against any rivalry between INEC Electoral Officers and NYSC Local Government Inspectors, warning that such issues could jeopardise electoral operations.
“We must realise the need for us to come together and achieve the same result,” he said.
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Agboke added that the visit by the NYSC leadership had reinforced his confidence in the success of future engagements.
“We are going to ensure the provision of a standby vehicle to ferry corps members to the registration areas.
“The initiative is timely and cost effective and the engagement is an indication that there is more for us to work together for success,” he stated.
Earlier, NYSC Osun Coordinator, Ekeng Ita Kubiangha, said the partnership between the scheme and INEC had remained critical to election management across the country.
He explained that the MoU was time bound and clearly defined areas of cooperation, stressing the need for both institutions to work within agreed timelines.
“Adherence to the agreement would ensure efficiency in electoral assignments involving corps members,” Kubiangha said.
He reaffirmed NYSC’s commitment to collaboration, noting the importance of corps members in upholding INEC’s ethical standards.
“Our corps members are part and parcel of the process. The security of our corps members is very paramount when it comes to national assignment,” he said.
Kubiangha also suggested that INEC’s training materials be made available electronically ahead of physical sessions to improve readiness.
He assured that the NYSC in Osun State would continue to support electoral duties with professionalism and neutrality.