Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, has canvassed for more support from the European Union (EU) in funding civic and voter education, ahead of the 2015 general elections.
Jega made the request when he received the EU Ambassador and Head of European Union Delegation in Nigeria, Ambassador Michel Arrion.
He said the Commission’s resources could not adequately accommodate the huge funding requirements for effective civic and voter education programmes contemplated by it.
He said: “I must express our appreciation by acknowledging the contribution to EU donor basket fund to support democracy, more specifically those that relate with our responsibility in the electoral commission. And we would want to encourage you to support that process, which we have found very beneficial.
“But obviously as we move towards 2015 general elections, outside of that basket fund, there is scope for additional cooperation in a number of areas, but to my mind, most especially in the area of voter education. I believe that, whatever we can do to ensure that by 2015, we have a remarkably more enlightened voters, who could come out and discharge their civic duties and participate in the electoral process and do the right thing to ensure that their votes are not wasted will be welcome.”
Jega welcomed the idea of the proposed EU Pre-Election and Mid-Term Review Team due to be in Nigeria soon, recalling the benefits of previous EU Election Observation Mission report to the learning experience of the Commission.
Arrion, in his remarks, pledged continued EU support for the Commission, emphasising the commitment to improved electoral out comes for the country.
