INEC’s returning officers will come from professional bodies -Director

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said only members of professional groups with high integrity would be considered for returning officers job at elections other than academics.

Director of Education and Publicity at INEC, Mr Oluwole Osaze-Uzi, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja.

NAN recalls that INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, had, at a meeting in Lagos hinted that the commission was considering other professional groups to be appointed as returning officers aside from returning officers during elections.

Osaze-Uzi said that the commission acknowledged that people of integrity cut across all professional groups.

“Integrity cuts across all the professional groups but what the commission is looking for is where there is some level of accountability,’’ he explained.

He said that to extend the election job to other professionals, the commission would consult the groups to nominate members with high integrity that were prepared to undertake such assignment.

“If it is lawyers for example, we will consult the National Bar Association (NBA), for media we consult the Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ) or the Guild of Editors.

“If we also want to consider doctors, we will consult the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA).

“Such professional body will be consulted in nominating their members of highest integrity and who are prepared to undertake that assignment,’’ he said. (NAN)