The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega has appealed for additional funding ahead of the 2015 general elections.
Fielding questions at a public hearing on free and fair 2015 general elections in the House of Representatives, Professor Jega said the commission has not been granted full autonomy as prescribed by the Nigerian constitution as amended especially in the area of funding.
He urged the Presidency and the National Assembly to lift what he called an ‘envelope system’ imposed upon the commission to enable them operate truly independently as it’s name suggests.
The INEC Chairman was speaking during a national dialogue organised by the House Committee on Reform of Government Institutions aimed at bringing together civil society groups, political party chairmen, analysts and the general public to brainstorm on ways to ensure transparent, credible and fair general elections in 2015.
The House Minority Whip, Samson Osagie and Chairman of the House Committee on Reform of Government Institutions, Mathew Omegara both noted that there is still a lot of work to be done towards a free and fair election.
They also urged INEC not to succumb to any external influence or dictatorship.
Professor Jega assured that the commission will address numerous challenges it is facing but said this will be difficult without adequate funding.
He also noted that several suggestions have been made on the conduct of the 2015 elections such as the provision for registration and voting for persons living with disability, information dissemination, record management system and security.
