…Recruits 17,000 ad hoc staff
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said that it would not accommodate voters without their face masks to exercise their franchise at the September 19 and October 10 governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states respectively
This is even as the commission disclosed that it has recruited over 17, 000 adhock staff for the Ondo state governorship poll
National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education at the Commission, Festus Okmoye gave the warning during a workshop for Ondo based journalists ahead of the election in Akure
“Voter without facemask would not be allowed to vote on the election. We urged the voters to cooperate with our officials and the security agents at the polling centres.
“This requirement is part of measures to combat the spread of Coronavirus pandemic during and after the October 10 election in Ondo state,” Okoye added
He also noted that the use of branded nose masks would not be allowed during the voting exercise, adding that the Commission is also working with presidential task force on COVID-19 to make available infrared thermometers in all polling units during the election.
“We are doing everything possible to ensure the safety of everyone including our electoral officers.”
Okoye, who assured that adhoc staff would be paid on time, advised them to ensure they provide their correct account details after they have been giving their letters of appointment.
He explained the 17,000 adhock staff for Ondo poll, are made up of 15,000 corps members and 5,000 undergraduates of the federal higher institutions in the country.
He added that the commission would also engage civil servants and heads of tertiary institutions as collation and presiding officers, noting that the staff of the commission would not be part of the exercise.
“No INEC staff will be engaged. But staff of parastatals, agencies, and commissions would be engaged as returning officers. No collation officer will come from the federal tertiary institutions in Ondo State. It is Nigerians that will conduct this election. The pandemic has not stopped from doing our work.”
