Jega Urges Lawmakers To Support Electoral Reforms

Jega made the appeal at a dinner organised for him by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress and some civil society organisations in FCT Abuja on June 26.

“Electoral reform has just begun, a lot more
efforts need to be done. The Justice Muhammed Uwais panel has a lot of good recommendations, which are yet to be taken on board and implemented,” he said.

Prof Jega urges the lawmakers to continue the electoral reform
“Between now and 2019, there is sufficient time and scope for us to be able to ensure that additional reform methods can come in,” the INEC boss continued.

Jega reminded that the commission made a recommendation two years ago for amendment to the electoral act and the constitution to improve the legal framework before the 2015 general elections. He regretted that it had not materialised up to the present, however, described the existing legal framework as fairly good.

“It could have been better if the legal framework had been improved,” he added.

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Jega urged the lawmakers to continue supporting the INEC and the future electoral reforms. In his view, improvement in the electoral process in the country is still required.

Finally, he praised the commissioners and the INEC staff for their support and efforts under very difficult circumstances for successful elections in 2015.

Ayuba Wabba, the NLC president, said in his speech at the dinner that Nigerians would not accept a reversal of the progress made with the historic 2015 general elections, where the will of the people was truly reflected in the ballot.

He further called for the full implementation of Uwais’s report, adding that it would go a long way to achieve full credibility in the conduct of elections.

Prof Attahiru Jega was responsible for the conduct of the 2011 and the 2015 general elections. His tenure as the INEC chairman ends on Tuesday, June 30, 2015.