2019: INEC signs MOU with drivers

In preparation for the 2019 general election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with various drivers’ organisations in the country.

INEC signed the agreement with the National Union of Road Transport workers (NURTW), Road Transport Employer’s Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and the National Association of Road Transport Officers (NARTO) in Abuja on Wednesday.

According to the INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the agreement was to ensure the commission made adequate arrangement to overcome the challenge of logistics.

He explained that it would help the commission to deploy election materials and personnel to the 774 local government areas, 8,809 wards and 119,973 polling units in the country.

He noted that the commission saw the need to extend its collaboration beyond the NURTW, hence, the signing of agreement with NARTO and RTEAN, especially with the commission’s need of over one hundred thousand vehicles for the election.

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“Today’s ceremony is marking a greater step in the preparation for 2019 election. One of the critical challenges to the conduct of election in Nigeria is logistics. To deploy personnel and election materials from state offices to 774 local government areas, 8809 wards and 119,973 polling units.”

“In Nigeria, only INEC undertakes such a huge nationwide deployment and retrieval of personnel and materials twice within a short period of two weeks. No other agency in Nigeria embarks on this undertaking.

“To achieve this, INEC requires over 100,000 vehicles. Accordingly, we decided to extend our collaboration beyond NURTW.”

He said the number of vehicles needed in each state would be worked out between the official of the drivers’ union and the Resident Electoral Commissioner in that particular state.

He added that all vehicles would be monitored by security operatives and would tracked electronically.

“Security agencies will escort all vehicles to location and all vehicles will be tracked electronically and in real time, “he said.

He added that all polling units would be opened by 8a.m on voting days while promising voters a pleasant voting experience.

He said, “All units will be opened by 8a.m. We assure a pleasant voting experience in the 2019 election. Materials and personnel will be on location awaiting voters rather than the other way.”

With just 65 days away, the 2019 general election begins with the presidential and national assembly election on Saturday, 16th February 2019 while the governorship and state house of assembly elections is scheduled for Saturday, 2nd of March 2019.

By Babatunde Alao….

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