Promotions: I’ll clear backlog before leaving, says Jega

INEC, Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega

Outgoing Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof.  Attahiru Jega, has promised to clear the backlog of all promotions at the commission before the expiration of his tenure at the end of this month.

 

Jega was, however, quoted as saying that “there would be no room for any automatic promotion.”

 

This was contained in the commission’s bulletin, a copy of which was made available to our correspondent in Abuja on Wednesday.

Jega also said states which did not create or activate Registration Area Centres during the last general elections will be directed to account for their inability.

 

He warned about reverting to what obtained in the past where Resident Electoral Commissioners and Electoral Officers returned election outcomes, insisting that by appointing Returning Officers outside INEC, “remarkable improvement was brought to the process.”

 

He observed that the strain on RECs and EOs during elections was too much and further saddling them with the task of returning election outcomes tended to make them prone to mistakes. 

“The strain is too much. They are not superhumans and they will make mistakes,” Jega was quoted as saying. 

 

He expressed delight that most of the returning officers appointed by the commission in the 2011 and 2015 general elections were above board.

He said the retreat organised for Resident Electoral Commissioners in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, made a number of brilliant suggestions, which he said, when taken on board by the next Commission, would remarkably improve the electoral process.

Jega said he felt fulfilled with the outcome of the 2015 general elections, which conduct, he said, was appreciated by most Nigerians.

In what was said to have passed for a valedictory speech, Jega added that the commission, under his watch, had laid a good foundation on which subsequent commissions could build on.

 

Jega was quick to acknowledge, however, that the performance of the commission was attributed to the combined efforts of the management and staff who, he said, worked tirelessly and under difficult circumstances.

 

He attributed the success of the elections to the manner the management and staff worked and related like a family.