The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has said the outcome of investigation on its slain member during last Saturday’s legislative rerun in Rivers State, Dumebi Samuel Okonta, will determine if its members will continue to be used as ad hoc workers in future elections.
NYSC’s Director-General, Brig.-Gen. Johnson Bamidele Olawumi, spoke in Abuja when he hosted the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmud Yakubu.
The NYSC chief said a committee had been set up to unravel the circumstances surrounding Okonta’s death.
He said the corps might be forced to review the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it signed with INEC after the completion of the investigation.
Olawumi said: “The NYSC as a body may not be able to continue to cope with the gruesome murder of corps members during elections. We may have to review our partnership after this investigation.
“Our commission of investigators are already on ground in Rivers State to determine the remote cause or causes of the death of the corps member.
“We may be forced to review our partnership with INEC on the use of corps members as ad hoc workers as we cannot continue to witness the death of our innocent corps members.”
Yakubu, who was on a condolence visit to NYSC headquarters, sympathised with the family of the late Okonta and the NYSC management.
The INEC chairman said the commission would continue to create a conducive environment for its ad hoc workers in future polls.
He offered automatic employment to a corps member, Adegba Samuel, who served in Benue State and lost his eyesight during an election duty.
Yakubu said: “We feel the pain of the NYSC and the family of the deceased at this period. We share in their grief and loss. We will continue to create a conducive environment for our ad hoc workers in future polls.
“I commend security agencies for showing up on time to save the lives of other corps members.”