By David Okoh
-SAYS BANDITS, CRIMINALS STOPPED OPEN DISCUSSION OF SENSITIVE MATTERS WITH INEC
Senator Barau has shed some light on the Senate’s interaction with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the National Population Commission, NPC. In this chat with Dargic. Com, the lawmaker reveals that the fear of possible actions by Bandits and other criminal elements stopped them from having open discussion on elections with the INEC because of its sensitive nature: EXCERPTS:-
WHY THE MEETING WITH INEC, NPC
We had interaction with INEC and National Population Commission in respect of complaints we had from different quarters about insufficient of funds that have been provided for them in the 2022 appropriation bill. And because of the stance of the Senate of the federal republic of Nigeria, that these two Institutions need to be properly catered for in terms of their funding. We all know the importance of elections in this country. It is the foundation of every democracy. If you don’t get it right in your Electoral process you are in trouble as a nation. So that is why we said let us not
wait until the problem manifest itself. We decided to have interaction with them to see where we can do something for them for them to perform optimally.
And that of NPC, we all know population census and housing census in every country, the data that will be generated from that exercise to be able to plan very well as a nation. That has not been done for the past 15 years, we appreciate the fact that the president and indeed the entire executive are determined to conduct the population census and we are all on the same page with the executive arm of government and we believe that it is something that will be beneficial to this country. So it was on this note that we decided as a committee that we should listen, discuss with NPC to hear if there is any problem in terms of their funding.
They have told us frankly….what we had today was a robust interaction. We have known their problems, and we are going to work on those problems to make sure that they are solved.
ENSURING ADEQUATE FINANCES FOR ELECTIONS, NATIONAL POPULATION CENSUS
Well, I don’t want us to go into the knitty gritty of what is contained in the budget. The budget is a very voluminous document, I am sure anything that needed to be done has been done. We have people with integrity, they have done well in the preparation of the budget, and I am sure all those area of concern have been taken care of. So, that is why we interacted with them to cross all t’s and dot the i’s so that we don’t produce an Appropriation Act that would be faulty in terms of funding of our elections and population census and housing census. We don’t want anything that will impede them in terms of Finance.
ON DIRECT PRIMARY
No…no we didn’t discuss that with INEC. We never discussed that. Something that has to with election, includes sensitive materials, that we will not want to be discussed openly. Certain functions of government work, so that’s why they don’t want it open. They said they don’t want everybody to know the time and the type of system and procurement of certain items they are going to use because of security concerns. Because they are going to bring ballot papers from somewhere and these criminals, bandits. You have seen how INEC facilities were burnt in certain parts of the country if the criminals understand this is the time you are bringing item A or B that are sensitive it could bring problem to the entire election. So, that is why they don’t want these items open to everyone.
PASSAGE OF BUDGET
I don’t have the authority to tell you that whether the budget will be passed this week or not, but we are still working on it. You can make your calculations. I don’t have the authority, the Senate President will be the one to tell you that.
