- Calls for support on credible election
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called on secretaries to governments at the federal and state levels to uphold professionalism as bureaucrats and avoid the political trappings by political officeholders.
The Commission also called for support from bureaucrats on its determination to conduct free, fair and credible elections in 2023 The Trumpet gathered.
Chairman of the commission Prof. Mahmood Yakubu gave this charge at the first quarter 2022 meeting of the Forum of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) with Secretaries to State Governments held at the Conference Hall of the State House, Aso Rock Villa, Abuja on Friday.
The commission said the impact of democratic elections on the bureaucracy in Nigeria cannot be overemphasized, adding that bureaucracy under the democratic experience has continued to be surrounded with so many fundamental historical issues that are unique to Nigeria.
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National Commissioner (INEC), Mr Sam Olumekun who represented the chairman at the event advised bureaucrats to continue to uphold utmost professionalism at all times, to avoid being lured into politics by political office holders, thereby politicizing the bureaucratic set-up and destroying the fabrics of the profession.
He said, “political patronage among civil and public servants has the potential to destroy the gains attained over the years.”
“The fact needs to be stressed that credible elections engender effective bureaucracy. Conversely, when elections are marked with malpractices, the recruitment process of political office holders is negatively impacted.
In effect, public office holders may not have what it takes to put in place credible bureaucracy to better the lot of those ruled. “The remarkableness of democracy in Nigeria since the commencement of this dispensation has influenced several remarkable reforms in the nation’s bureaucracy to drive effectively government policies and programmes to grow every sector towards achieving nation-building,” he said.
The chairman said INEC is saddled with the responsibilities of coordinating the process and activities that will give Nigerians a solid and credible platform to exercise their franchise during the elections within the ambit of law and internationally acceptable standards.
He said the commission requires all Nigerians to support her in the onerous assignment of delivering a free, fair,
credible and crisis-free election going by the challenge posed by insecurity in the country.
