A former National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member who sustained life-altering injuries while serving as a presiding officer during the 2019 general elections has been left abandoned by both NYSC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), despite a National Assembly order directing the two bodies to compensate him with ₦10 million each.
The incident, which occurred in Kebbi State, left the ex-corps member with severe physical damage, including a shattered eardrum, near-total vision loss in one eye, broken ribs, and other lasting complications. After initial treatment at the Usman Dan Fodio University Teaching Hospital in Sokoto, he was allegedly placed on a night bus and sent to Lagos, a 20-hour journey that reportedly worsened his condition.
Despite multiple petitions and a 2022 resolution by the ninth National Assembly ordering both agencies to pay him a total of ₦20 million, neither NYSC nor INEC has complied. Now aged 34, the victim has been in and out of hospitals, with his deteriorating health making him unfit for employment or even sustaining a livelihood.
The plea for justice gained renewed attention after a concerned Nigerian sent a message to broadcast journalist Rufai Oseni on X (formerly Twitter), seeking his intervention.
“Please, I have a case of a brother who was involved in a ghastly accident on his way to polling unit while serving the country as a corps member… Unfortunately, he has been abandoned… He has become almost practically useless to himself, as he cannot be considered medically fit for employment,” the message read.
READ MORE: NYSC Extends Corps Member Raye’s Service by Two Months Over Criticism of Tinubu
According to the sender, all legal efforts have failed to move the two agencies into action, despite the clear ruling from lawmakers.
The post has since drawn public outrage, with many Nigerians calling for swift justice. One user, @Onyia_ImageLB, commented: “He needs to be assessed medically, then get integrated into the employment world… Any cash given to him should have the majority of it placed on a fixed deposit for 5 years.” @Rangui4 said, “What a story. This story just raised all the goosebumps on my body. Oh Nigeria! On active duty, ooo! Abandoned.”
Many commenters also questioned how the country continues to fail those who put their lives on the line to serve it.
As of press time, neither NYSC nor INEC had issued any public response regarding the compensation order. Calls for their accountability continue to grow, with Nigerians urging the government to prioritize justice for the injured citizen.
Follow the Parallel Facts channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaCQSAoHgZWiDjR3Kn2E
