By Okiemute Okpomor ASABA – Members of Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) to acquaint themselves with enabling laws so that they will always do their best for the electorates.
This charge was given by Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor of Delta State in Asaba during the swearing-in ceremony of Chief Michael Ogbodu and six others as Chairman and members of the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC).
According to Senator Okowa, “chairmen and members of electoral commissions should look into the law establishing the Commission, get yourselves acquainted with it, so that you are able to carry out all other duties as specified by the law creating the Commission.”
Senator Okowa specifically charged members of DSIEC to carry out their functions creditably, especially, with the fact that the tenure of incumbent local government chairmen and councillors in the state would lapse next month, October, 2017.
The Governor added, “obviously, the task that you (Chairman and members of DSIEC) are about to carry out in the next few years is one that requires a lot of commitment and integrity and it is my hope that as chairman and members you will discharge your functions creditably.”
Senator Okowa spoke further, “our local government chairmen have served for 3 years and their tenure will be expiring at the end of October; that means that you (DSIEC) have to put all processes in place to be able to conduct a credible election in the next few months. Yes it is a big task but, I believe that the newly inaugurated Commission will be able to put the processes in place and will be able to deliver a credible election. There is no doubt that our people will need some enlightenment particularly as it regards the voters and there is a need for the membership of the Commission to work in harmony, because, it is only then, you can achieve results.”
He urged members of the Commission to work with management staff to ensure that credible elections are conducted within the shortest possible time.
Responding, Chief Ogbodu, chairman of the Commission expressed appreciation Governor Okowa’s administration for deeming them fit to serve Deltans through DSIEC, he assured that they will be unbiased umpires who will provide a level playing field for all political parties participating in the elections.
Other members of the Commission also sworn-in as members of the Commission were Messrs Frederick Ulakpa, Friday Seimode, James Umokoro, Greg Edeme, Mrs Light Diden and Mrs Yvonne Wagbatsoma as members of the Commission.
Meanwhile, Governor Okowa has called on Nigerians to register with the National Identify Card Management Commission (NIMC) because of its numerous benefits.
This call was made by Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor of Delta State when Engr. Aliu Aziz, Director General cum Chief Executive Officer, National Identity Card Management Commission (NIMC,) led top management of the Commission to pay him a courtesy visit in Asaba, he disclosed that effective capturing of Nigerians by the NIMC would ensure ease in doing a lot of things in the country.
According to Senator Okowa, “national identification number is important in capturing who we are; it is needed for so many things, even as we progress in the national health insurance scheme, national population commission, in the fight against crime and several other areas that will encourage the growth of the country.”
Senator Okowa added, “I hope we will be able to provide the needed resources for the NIMC to capture as many Nigerians as possible, because, with the data collected so far, it will take a lot of years for the Commission to capture all Nigerians”
While calling for aggressive awareness campaign by the Commission and government to ensure that more Nigerians are captured, Senator Okowa stated that Nigerians should be made to know the gains inherent in having a national identity number to citizens.
He commended Engr. Aziz for carrying out advocacy visits for governments, individuals and corporate organisations to key into their activities, assuring that his administration would support the registration process to enable more Deltans to be enrolled.
Earlier, Engr. Aziz had said that they were in the state to seek government support for more Deltans to be captured in the programme, disclosing that 22.2 million Nigerians out of which 589, 000 are Deltans have been captured.
Engr. Aziz stated that there are only 27 active enrolment centres in Delta State “which is not enough for effective coverage,” he then called for the assistance of the Delta State government for the creation of more centres for the enrolment of Deltans, especially those in the riverine communities.
The ceremony was was attended by the Deputy Governor of Delta State, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro and top government functionaries.
