Politics
Kwara REC Tasks Corps Members On Integrity, Patriotism
The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kwara, Malam Garba Attahiru-Madami, last Monday called on NYSC members to always maintain their integrity wherever they found themselves.
Attahiru-Madami made the call at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Yikpata, Edu Local Government Area of the state, while addressing Batch ‘B’ Stream II corps members.
Attahiru-Madami was at the orientation camp to sensitise corps members on the activities of the commission.
He also urged the corps members to be patriotic and be committed to the ideals and tenets of the scheme throughout the service year.
In a paper presented on his behalf by Mr Jacob Ayanda, HOD Voter Education and Publicity, Attahiru-Madami said INEC holds corps members in highest regard as they form the bulk of the ad hoc staff during elections in the country.
“Corps members are dear to INEC, we value NYSC, and you are our major stakeholder because 70 per cent of INEC ad hoc staff are corps members,” he said.
Out of the 13, 000 ad hoc staff INEC used in Kwara during the last general elections, more than 7, 000 were corps members.
Attahiru-Madami told the corps members that the NYSC experience marks the beginning of life, hence the need to always protect their integrity and family name.
He said his integrity earned him the success he achieved during the general elections, adding that he refused to compromise his integrity.
The REC said welfare of corps members during elections was very paramount to INEC as critical stakeholders, noting that corps members had played prominent roles in the electoral process in Nigeria.
“Corps members’ welfare is of paramount importance to the commission.
“In the first place, the commission ensures that all necessary logistic arrangements are made for them from the training period till after the election day.
“Provision of logistics, in terms of transport from INEC local government area offices to the Registration Area Centers (RACs) are provided.
“At the RACs, basic amenities such as electricity, potable water, sleeping materials and toiletries are equally provided.
“Moreover, the commission makes provision for adequate security for corps members and materials to be used during elections,” he added.
The REC also admonished corps members, as Voter Education Officers at their places of primary assignment, to always be well dressed.
“As the Public Relations Officers of the commission at the unit level, the corps members must protect the image of the commission and regularly carry out publicity activities,” the REC said.
These activities, the REC, said may include display of posters and election results.
The State Coordinator of NYSC, Mrs Tosin Ikupolati, urged corps members, especially females, to always dress decently.
According to Ikupolati, men would admire ladies more if they do not expose their bodies.
The Tide source reports that Prof. Akinoso was elected alongside 38 other executive members of the party at the congress held on Saturday.
Other executive members are Dr Abiola Olaonipekun, who emerged as Secretary, Alhaja Latifah Latifu, Women Leader and Mr A. Adeleke, elected as Youth Leader.
It was learnt that the congress, which took place at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Oke Ado in Ibadan, was attended by representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Police, other security agencies and prominent members of the party.
The election was supervised by electoral committee members, among whom were Prince Diran Odeyemi, who served as Chairman, Hon. Awoniyi Tolulope, Mr Babatunde Gbadamosi, Queen Stepheine Oyechere, Alhaji Yusuf Abidakun, Mr Olumide Aguda and Dr Phillips Adeniyi, who served as Secretary.
Prof. Akinoso, in his inaugural address, urged members of the party to set aside intra-party differences.
He advised them to concentrate their resources on the promotion of the party, saying, “The primary responsibilities of party executive members are to coordinate party activities, ensure harmony among members, and ensure party victory during general elections.
“Our immediate assignments are to key into INEC released 2027 general election time-tables. As directed by the National Caretaker Committee of PDP, our party e-membership registration starts next week. We must be fully involved and do a membership drive.
“A political party is only relevant and benefits its members if it wins the election. This is our goal. We should set aside intra-party differences; concentrate our resources towards the promotion of the party. We will make necessary consultations and dialogue to actualise this”.
President Tinubu disclosed this during an interfaith breaking of fast with senior journalists and media executives at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Saturday.
He also disclosed that his administration had opened up on the principles of true federalism to the extent that local governments now get direct allocation from the Federal Government.
“There’s no morning that I ever leave my house without going through the newspapers. It’s an addiction. I read all of you.
“It might not be in full detail, but headline, the one that would hit me and the ones that won’t.
“At the beginning of this administration, I was just a little bit stubborn, looking at opportunities to correct things and make life more easier for the downtrodden.
“We’ve opened up the principle of federalism to the extent that local governments are now getting their money, but how they use it is in your hands. So, don’t bombard me alone,” President Tinubu said.
The ruling party said the ADC had turned criticism of the APC-led administration into its operating manifesto instead of presenting concrete solutions to Nigeria’s economic challenges.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Mr Felix Morka, the party dismissed the ADC’s interpretation of a report presented at a policy dialogue organised by Agora Policy which suggested that the country’s poverty rate had risen from 49 per cent to 63 per cent.
Mr Morka said the opposition party’s reaction to the report as a “damning verdict” on the government’s economic policies reflected either ignorance of economic realities or deliberate political mischief.
“The African Democratic Congress’ attempt to spin a recent report presented at the Agora Policy dialogue indicating a rise of poverty rate of 63 per cent from 49 per cent as a damning verdict on this administration’s economic policies speaks either to its shocking ignorance of economic policy or its wilful blindness to the justification for, and transformative impacts of, ongoing economic reforms,” he said.
The APC spokesman noted that the report itself recognised the necessity of reforms aimed at correcting long-standing structural distortions in the economy.
According to him, the ADC had failed to present any credible alternative policy direction for Nigerians.
“Clearly, the ADC does not recognise itself as a political party. The ADC has not articulated a single alternative policy position or prescription of benefit to Nigerians. Condemning the APC and its policies has become its operating manifesto,” Mr Morka said.
He explained that major economic decisions taken by President Bola Tinubu, including the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of multiple foreign exchange windows, were necessary steps to rescue the country’s economy from collapse.
Mr Morka said the subsidy regime had for years placed a heavy burden on public finances, consuming trillions of naira annually while encouraging corruption, fuel smuggling and inefficiencies in the system.
He added that the reforms had helped redirect national resources to key sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, education and social development.
The APC spokesman acknowledged that economic reforms often come with short-term hardship but stressed that the measures were essential to build a stronger and more resilient economy.
“Economic reform is never cost-free anywhere in the world. The transient hardship experienced by Nigerians was an inevitable cost of reforms meant to build and guarantee a better future for all Nigerians,” he said.
Mr Morka maintained that the country’s economic outlook was already improving, citing recent growth figures and stronger external reserves.
“Our economy has rebounded and is expanding steadily. The country’s Gross Domestic Product grew by 4.4 per cent last year and is projected to expand by 5.5 per cent this fiscal year, with foreign reserves now exceeding $50 billion,” he stated.
He also pointed to government initiatives designed to cushion the effects of economic adjustments on citizens, including cash transfer programmes, student loan schemes and the rollout of compressed natural gas (CNG) initiatives to reduce transportation costs.
Mr Morka reaffirmed that the APC-led administration would remain focused on rebuilding the economy and expanding social investments to support vulnerable Nigerians.