Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof Mahmood Yakubu, has rated the commission as the most improved public establishment in the country.
According to Yakubu, the conduct of election since 1999 has shown an upward improvement on the part of the commission.
Yakubu spoke during the review of the 2019 election with the second batch of about 387 Election Officers (EOs) from the Southern states of the country.
The first batch of about 387 EOs from the 19 Northern states had had their review with the top management of the commission on Monday.
“If you look at what happened to our elections since 1999, you will know that INEC is the most improved public service in Nigeria.”
“We have offices at the grassroots but we can do more,” Yakubu said adding that the review was aimed at improving the system even better.
“Feel free to make the observation and necessary suggestions. It is an opportunity to make our elections better,” Yakubu said but jokingly added that he missed the opportunity of been an EO.
“11 Agust 1979 and 1983, I was a presiding officer at a poling units. It was the times we met with the almighty EOs. That help me to form an opinion on elections,” Yakubu added.
“Every organization should be interested in successive plan. The commission will not loose experience hands soon. We try to build the capacity of our EOs by giving them the needed exposure.
“We involved the EOs in foreign elections observation including various trips to Kenya, Liberia America. It help me to access the EO and I’ve not been disappointed with the quality of our EOs.
“You do more than just election day activity. We started in 2018 with the continue voters registration and about 14.2 million registered voters were added,” Yakubu said during the opening session of the review.
National Commissioner and Chairman, Planning, Monitoring & Strategy Committee, INEC, Dr Mustapha Lecky, said it was the second and final batch of the review from the remaining EOs from the 18 Southern states. According to Lecky, it was because of the critical roles EOs play in the elections that the commision want them to make a roboust recommendation.
“The EOs are powerful. Everyone is a supporting staff to the EOs Lecky said adding that INEC will hold a retreat with state electoral officers for more reviews.”
