Chairman of the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, has urged the 774 Electoral Officers (E.O.s)
from across the country to reflect on the shortcomings of the Commission during
2015 general elections in order to improve on future elections.
Delivering
the welcome address yesterday at a one-day post 2015 general election retreat
for Electoral Officers, tagged “2015 General Elections: lessons and way
forward”, held at NAF Conference Hall, Kado, Abuja, the INEC Chairman said:
“Let us not waste time discussing what we did right, what we did right was good
and it has helped us to have a good election in 2011 and 2015 but let us focus
on what we did wrong. What were those things that we shouldn’t have done which you have observed as field officers that we
did, which we need to correct or improve on as we move towards the future?”
Professor
Jega congratulated the E.O.s present for their very commendable role in the
success of the 2015 general elections, saying, “I commend you for the role you
played, we are very happy with that role, as we are all aware not only
Nigerians but friends of Nigeria all over the world have been appreciative of
our efforts to deliver free fair and credible elections in our country. You
have worked very hard, tirelessly under very difficult circumstances to get
this outcome”.
He declared that his major regret was the
inability of his leadership to put in place “a separate salary structure for the staff of
the Commission”. But
despite this non-realization, Professor Jega declared that: “We have not done badly as we have consistently paid salaries and
organized seminars and workshops to sharpen the skills of staff”.
The INEC Chairman
stressed that the Commission must continue to do its best to improve the electoral
process, calling on all participants not to rest on their oars in a bid to
continually raise the bar in the business of electioneering. Said he: “There is
no doubt that for our country to continue to develop, we need good elections.
Well
conducted elections will result in the election of good people which can drive
the process of governance very well and deliver good governance for our people
in terms of satisfying the needs and aspirations of our people through the
governance process”.
In
his goodwill message, the Country Director of International Foundation for
Electoral Systems (IFES), Shalva Kipshidze, congratulated the Commission for
the successful conduct of the 2015 elections. He, however, pointed out that
there was room for improvement.
He
said: “IFES is happy to support your Commission’s effort to review the conduct
of the 2015 elections so as to build on the good practices and lessons learnt
as we prepare for 2019 general elections”.
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