The Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, with few days left in his tenure, has called on the National Assembly to be decisive in reforming the Electoral Act and reviewing the Constitution.
Jega made the call at a Dinner organised for him by the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress and some civil society organisations in Abuja on Friday night. Jega will retire as the Chairman of INEC on Tuesday.
“Electoral reform has just begun, a lot more efforts needs to be done.The Justice Muhammed Uwais panel has a lot of good recommendations which are yet to be taken on board and implemented.
“I think between now and 2019, there is sufficient time and scope for us to be able to ensure that additional reform methods can come in. We made a recommendation two years ago for amendment to the electoral act and the constitution to improve the legal framework before 2015 general elections.
“Regrettably, it did not materialise up to the time we did the elections, and the existing legal framework is fairly good. It could have been better if the legal frame work had been improved.’’
He called on the National Assembly to continue to support INEC and give it the necessary encouragement required to improve on the good foundation that had been laid out.
Jega pledged continuous support to future electoral reforms and improvement in the electoral process in the country.
He commended INEC commissioners and staff for their support and efforts under very difficult circumstances for successful elections in 2015. He also commended the labour movement for their continuous support for INEC and the reforms in the electoral process.
The NLC President, Mr Ayuba Wabba, said the reforms which the INEC boss brought to bear on the organisation reflected in the 2015 general elections.
“With commitment, patriotic and honest disposition, Jega was able to, through administrative wizardly, accomplish the historic success of 2015 general elections.
That was how Jega was able to outwit our chronic election riggers out of relevance in the innovations of the permanent voter card and card readers’’, he said.
Wabba advised that whoever would be the next INEC boss should continue with the benchmark set by Jega. He said Nigerians would not accept a reversal of the progress made with the 2015 general elections where the will of the people was truly reflected in the ballot.
Wabba called for the full implementation of Uwais report, adding that it would go a long way to achieve full credibility in the conduct of elections.
Mr Salisu Mohammed, Chairman, Labour Party Caretaker Committee, said it was time for Nigerians to build institutions that would have enduring legacies.
“What happened in the National Assembly is a cause for concern for all who have concern for Nigeria’s future. It shows that our democracy is still in infancy and if care is not taken, we may suffer serious setback’’, he said.