INEC okays commercial vehicles to convey materials

FOLLOWING the acute shortage of operational vehicles that hits the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the rescheduled general election, the chairman of the commission, Professor Attahiru Jega, has reportedly made a U-turn over an earlier directive that private and commercial vehicles should not be used for the movement of electoral materials as well as officials under any excuse whatsoever.A reliable source at the commissions headquarters in Abuja, who revealed this to the Nigerian Tribune, on Wednesday, said the state Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) had been directed to make arrangement with transport operators in their respective states, to hire thenumber of vehicles needed.The source, however, said such transporters must be screened and documented, to avoid being hijacked by desperate politicians.Nigerian Tribune authoritatively learnt that the Jega-led commission reportedly purchased 530 new Hilux four-wheel drive vehicles earmarked for use in the 774 local government areas of the country, comprising 120,000 polling units.To say the least, the number of vehicles on the ground cannot even serve 10 states, not to talk of 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, under ideal situation. The electoral officers are not magicians, the chairman ought to have known this before, the source said.It, however, said with the new arrangement to be adopted with the private commercial vehicle operators if properly and sincerely executed, transportation problem would be minimised if not totally eradicated in the rescheduled elections.Nigerian Tribune further learnt that similar arrangement would be made with flying boats operators in the riverine areas, while the commission would make use of helicopters and light aircrafts of the Nigerian Airforce and other sources for the airlift of materials and officials, 24 hours ahead of the elections.Meanwhile, Professor Jega has directed the immediate payment of the hazard allowance of staff, which he reportedly stopped from January.According to the source, members of staff were worried that while the payment of the allowance was stopped nationwide, all the direct staff of Professor Jega were said not to be affected.A cross section of staff, who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune at the headquarters of the commission, in Abuja, on Wednesday, confirmed that they had received alerts from their banks.However, Professor Jega was said to have put the issue of salary increment, which he promised would be done before the general election, on hold for now.
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