INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION
DAILY
BULLETIN
VOLUME: 1 N0.: 748 DATE: 16 / 06 / 2015
2015 ELECTIONS: REFLECT ON OUR SHORTCOMINGS, JEGA TASKS ELECTORAL OFFICERS
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”.courtesy: INEC Bulletin.