INEC: Poor funding threatens operations – Jega

Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, on Wednesday decried under-funding of the commission, saying it was a big threat to its operations.

He made the statement at the quarterly meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Abuja.

Jega said that in spite of its enormous responsibility to the nation, the commission was not getting adequate funding.

“It is a very challenging task indeed, because a lot of the activities required funds and budgetary provisions. Regrettably, we don’t always get what we need all the times, to be able to address the challenges.’’

“There is the need to fund INEC properly for it to be able to carry out its functions; poor funding is a big threat to INEC’s operations,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the INEC chairman as saying at the meeting.

Jega said the commission would continue to engage government and the lawmakers, to have more resources to be able to improve the working conditions and other needs to make its job satisfactory.

He, however, stressed that INEC could not afford any delay in the execution of its programmes toward 2015 general elections.

The chairman said the activities of the electoral body required that the trend be reversed in good time for effectiveness and efficiency of the commission.

He said that in spite of challenges facing the commission, “remarkable progress” had been recorded under his stewardship.