Following Jega’s recent outburst
in the media that the country should not expect credible elections from the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC), if the present voter’s register is not
completely discarded and a fresh one put in place, President Goodluck Jonathan
has approved the sum of N72 billion for INEC. The INEC boss had earlier said
that about N72 billion was required to get a credible voter’s register in place
before the 2011 elections.
President Goodluck Jonathan
is believed to have directed Finance Minister Olusegun Aganga to source for the
cash, which INEC says it needs to compile a new register.
Last Thursday, INEC Chair
Prof. Attahiru Jega said the commission would need between N55 billion and N72
billion for the job.
Aganga and Jega met last
Friday on the modalities for the release of the fund.
It was learnt that Jonathan
acted swiftly because of the timeline for registration, updating and revision of
the register in the Electoral Act.
By the provision of the
2006 Electoral Act (as amended), INEC has between now and November 9 to produce
a credible register for the 2011 polls, which will begin in January.
A source in the Presidency,
who spoke in confidence, said the President gave the directive before he left
for the African Union (AU) meeting in Kampala, Uganda, last Friday.
He also warned against
delay in the release of the funds, it was learnt.
"In fact, the Minister
of Finance and INEC chairman had a closed door session on Friday to ascertain
how much is actually required and the modalities for disbursement.
"The challenge is left
to the Ministry of Finance to source for the funds with immediate effect,"
the source added.
Responding to a question,
the source said: "I think within the next one week, INEC may get the funds
but it also has the responsibility to reconcile its projections.
"Beyond the voters’
register, the President also directed the Ministry of Finance to release all
statutory and electoral budget to INEC."
The source also confirmed
that Jonathan has ruled out a shift in handover date from May 29 to September
or October.
He said: "Jonathan has
told his political associates and close cabinet members at a recent review
meeting that he won’t extend his stay beyond May 29.
"The President said he
would restrict his tenure to what the Constitution and the law say because any
subtle extension of tenure could cause tension nationwide.
"Apart from likely
political backlash, he believes that it is not in line with the rule of law to
engage in illegality.
"That is why he tried
his best to have mutual dialogue with the leadership of the National Assembly
to accelerate the passage of the amendments to the 2006 Electoral Act.
"He has also given
Jega a free hand and direct access to him to ensure free and fair polls in
2011. He has been telling his close aides that May 29 is realistic, if we have
the will as a nation."
There were signals yesterday
that INEC may soon roll out its programme for the review of the register.
A top source in the
commission said: "With assurance of funds, we will soon embark on a review
of the register."
Jos, the Plateau state capital, boiled yet again recently leaving in the wake of it hundreds of lives lost and properties worth billions of Naira destroyed. A good number of those who survived crisis have been economically displaced and may have to start life all over again.
A number of people would have kept their dead parents in the mortuary for months, thereby delaying the natural process of decomposition, all for fear of kidnap in the southeast today.
Deregulation, the magic wand, we've been told is the only solution to our petroleum needs. Nigerians, the federal government insists, must embrace deregulation if they need petroleum products or face the fate of returning to the medieval era of using firewood and stones or at best acquire plenty of donkeys from northern Nigeria, if they must move around.
Hey Ladies, In the last publication we
talked about being independent as a lady and highlighted so many points, but we
want to continue exploring the independent state of mind placing emphasis on
when the quest for independence could turn into arrogance in homes or amidst
friends.
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