INEC TO GET POLL ALLOCATION FROM CBN TUESDAY

Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has expressed hope that its cash request presented to the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN would be met on or before Tuesday.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of its Committee on Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, disclosed this on Sunday, revealing that the commission had earlier presented its cash requirement for prosecuting the forthcoming elections to the CBN, in face of shortage or scarcity of naira notes in circulation.

The commission had explained that even though it does most of its payments through online transfers, some specific services have to be paid for in cash.

When asked on Sunday when INEC expected to get the requested cash from the CBN, Okoye expressed hope that the challenge of physical cash required for the payment of certain categories of staff and some services will be sorted out on or before Tuesday, the 21st of February 2023.

On the question on the ongoing riots fuelled by cash scarcity and if it might affect the voters’ turnout on election days, Okoye said he was positive that the challenges bedevilling the country would not discourage registered voters from exercising their franchise.

He noted that the question of maintaining law and order is outside the remit of the Commission as Section 215(3) of the Constitution gives the Nigerian Police Force the responsibility of maintaining and security of public safety and public order.

He noted further that the commission does not have its own security arm and cannot deploy security operatives to the streets.