By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
Determined to ensure unbiased discharge of their assignments and to encourage efficiency and optimal performance, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has redeployed 186 staff across Nigeria.
The affected staff are either serving in their states of origin or have served for between 10 and 32 years in the same state hence the need to shake things up by the Commission especially as the country approaches the election year.
The news of the mass redeployment in INEC was made public on Thursday in Abuja through a press statement signed by Barrister Festus Okoye, Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, who noted that the Commission considers the long stay of staff in the same state as unhealthy for the sensitive responsibilities they discharge.
He further stated that in line with the Commission’s existing posting policy, henceforth no Head of Department (HoD) or Electoral Officer (EO) will serve in his/her State of origin, adding also that no staff will serve for more than two electoral cycles in the same duty post.
The statement read in parts: “Consequently, the Commission has identified 186 staff for immediate redeployment. Among them are 46 HoDs who are either serving in their States of origin or served for more than two electoral cycles in the same State as well as 140 EOs serving in their States of origin or served for more than two electoral cycles in the same State.
“The redeployed staff are to complete the handing and taking over not later than Wednesday 9th March 2022.
“This will be an ongoing exercise that will extend to other categories of staff in the Commission’s Headquarters, State and Local Government offices nationwide”, he concluded.
