Senate moves to strip Jega of power to appoint executive secretary

The Senate on Tuesday moved to strip Attahiru Jega, chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), of the power to appoint an executive secretary for the commission. It also rejected the conduct of elections in one day.

These developments followed debates on three bills consolidated during which senators canvassed that the appointment of the secretary of the commission should be done by the president, who appoints the chairman and commissioners of INEC.

The decision to remove the powers to appoint the INEC executive secretary from the chairman of the commission was contained in the bill for an Act to amend the Electoral Act, 2010 to provide for tenure of office of secretary, power to issue duplicate voters’ card, determine voting procedure and for other related matters 2014 which passed for second reading in the Senate.

ISAIAH ABRAHAM, Abuja