The Chairman, Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), Justice Ayotunde Phillips (retd), has appealed to Sole Administrators of Local Government/Local Council Development Areas (LCDA) to make the offices of Electoral Officers deployed to their councils conducive.
Phillips made the appeal at Agbowa in Ikosi-Ejinrin LCDA after an inspection tour of the offices of Electoral Officers in Ibeju Lekki, Epe, Eredo, Lekki and Ikosi Ejinrin to ascertain the state of the offices and the facilities available to the officers.
While acknowledging that the councils were “landlords” to the commission, she stressed that as partners in progress, the authorities in the councils should assist in making the working environment of Electoral Officers conducive.
This, she said, was important for the conduct of elections into the 57 councils when the officers would stay long in their offices.
The LASIEC boss also noted that while the offices of many had adequate space, they all required massive rehabilitation and furnishing.
LASIEC Permanent Secretary Mr Olumide Lawal, said the tour had shown that there was a wide gap “between the expectations of the commission and what really obtained” in each of the councils.
Lawal pointed out that while the commission had an Electoral Officer in each of the councils, the commission would appreciate if the council authorities could assign support staff to the Electoral Officers in their councils, particularly as the next elections were around the corner.
The commission, he said, would soon embark on stakeholders’ fora where it would engage and consult with the relevant groups and political parties.
Tag: LASIEC
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LASIEC to council chiefs: make Electoral Officers’ offices conducive
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LASIEC begins tour of councils
Chairman and members of Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) have began an inspection of the commission’s offices in the 57 councils of the state.
LASIEC Commissioner Mr Lateef Raji said the tour was to assess the physical state of the offices and to familiarise members with the terrain.
The exercise, he said, would enable the commission to make the offices conducive for the electoral officers.
The first round of the tour, he said, took them to Amuwo Odofin, Ojo, Oriade, Oto Awori and Iba where they inspected the electoral officers’ offices and the stores for keeping ballot boxes. -
LASIEC ‘will do better’
Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) will work harder to beat its own record, its chairman, Justice Ayotunde Phillips (rtd), has said.
Phillips spoke at a retreat organised for LASIEC Permanent Secretary management, staff and members as well as senior electoral officers at the Golden Tulip Hotel in FESTAC, Lagos.
She said the commission was taking note of the political and administrative changes and reforms taking place within and outside the country.
The commission’s desire to improve on its performance, she said, informed its decision to observe the elections in other parts of the world, including the United States presidential poll last November 8.
Phillips hailed Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for granting the commission permission to undertake those trips. She said the commission would justify the confidence reposed in it by conducting free, fair and credible elections.
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LASIEC chief prods students leaders on accountability
Lagos State Commissioner, Independent National Electoral Commission (LASIEC), Mr Lateef Raji, has said unionism among students will be a lot better if leaders are accountable.
He said student leaders who present their scorecards show humility and openness and would carry their followers along.
Raji spoke as outgoing Students’ Union executive of the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), Oto Ijanikin, presented a report of their activities to students.
In his address titled: “The role of students and youths in election process: Local government election as case study”, Raji told students that their education equips them to be change agents who should show interest in how their society is governed.
“It is true you may not have the (political) experience; but your education and age imbue in you fresh ideas that can help in giving Nigeria a new direction,” said Raji, who encouraged the youths to participate in the forthcoming local government elections in Lagos.
Raji encouraged the students to endure the current economic hardship and terrorism in the Northeast, describing it as a phase in the nation’s life.
“All these terrorism and economic challenges Nigeria is experiencing at present are not in any way unusual. Many of the developed societies we see today had gone through same phase at one point or the other in their quest for greatness. So Nigeria is not an exception.
“As youths, you represent the most adventurous segment of the society. Youths all over the world have played significant roles in driving change or kicking against draconian government policy, so you should not be an exception,” he said.
Presenting his scorecard, outgoing SU president, Muhammed Amoo, said since his election on September 14, last year, his administration has succeeded in reducing tuition fees to N10,000 across board; reducing Acceptance Fee from N5,000 to N1,000; posting raw scores on students’ devices; installing streetlights; providing students’ ID card as well as waste bins around campus; getting management to donate computer to the union, among others.
Under his administration tagged ‘Renaissance Era’ Amoo said the SU also successfully reviewed the constitution; organised seminars on empowerment and health, disbursed students insurance equitably; organised its maiden quiz contest, to mention a few.
Amoo admonished the new leaders to embrace dialogue, saying that his set did not stage a single protest while in the saddle.
“Let me say: this executive did not stage a single protest or shut down the gates of the college, yet our modest achievement has been due to continuous dialogue. There were times that we differed on issues but once management saw sense in our demand, they would acquiesce. Therefore I am recommending this to my successor. It worked in my time; it can work again,” Amoo said.
Earlier, the Provost, Dr Omolola Ladele, advised the students to be proud of their NCE certificates.
She said: “Many people often see those with NCE as second class, but I say it is not so. There are many of us who have taken teaching as a profession. The qualification I had in my time could get me to any tertiary institution but I chose college because I knew NCE would expose me to the right environment which deals more in practical.”
She advised the students to be good ambassadors of their alma mater.
The high point of the event was presentation of awards to Mr Raji, Dr Ladele and National president AOCOED Alumni Association, Comrade Adeyemi Adesanya.
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Group to picket LASIEC, councils over sole administrators
The National Coalition for Good Governance (NACOGG) has called on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, to ensure the immediate removal of sole administrators of local governments and conduct elections.
This is contained in a statement by the Convener of NACOGG, Mr Toyin Raheem, yesterday in Lagos.
Raheem said NACOGG would picket the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) should election be delayed.
He said there should not be any vacuum in local council, adding that the group would resort to protest.
“It (protest) will only end when the governor, through the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission announces the date of the election and withdraw the sole administrators.
“Among the actions to be taken are peaceful protests to Lagos State Governor’s office, Lagos State House of Assembly, APC State Secretariat and National Human Rights Commission Lagos office. Others include picketing of LASIEC and all the 57 Local Government Councils and Local Council Development Areas in Lagos state,’’ he said.
Raheem said the appointment of sole administrators to run the affairs of local government council was not only unconstitutional but a contempt of court of competent jurisdiction which nullified the out-gone caretaker committees and ordered the immediate conduct of elections.
He said that Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was clear on how the affairs of local government councils should be managed.
Raheem added that the words of the constitution must be followed to the letter.
NACOGG is an umbrella of Human Rights bodies like Leadership of Campaign for Democracy and Justice, Campaign for Constitutionalism and Human Rights (CCHR), Committee for Citizens Rights and Peoples’ advocates.
Others are: Centre for Rights of People with Disability, Committee for the Rights of Electorate and Committee for Worker’s Rights, Real Change Agents of Lagos State, Committee for Action against Impurity, Nigerians Arise and Citizens Council.
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Lagos Assembly confirms Phillips as LASIEC boss
THE Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday at a plenary confirmed the appointment of the immediate past Chief Judge, Justice (Mrs.) Ayotunde Adeyoola Phillips, as chairman of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC).
She was confirmed after a screening session at the plenary. Her name was submitted by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode through a letter sent to the House few weeks ago.
The Clerk of the House, Mr. Sanni Azeez, was subsequently ordered to communicate the confirmation of the appointment of Phillips to the governor through a letter.
Phillips, who was invited to the House to defend her nomination, said she was prepared for the job and that this would halt her retirement, which she had enjoyed for some time now.
She added that she was ready to serve the state.
Some of the lawmakers, who contributed during her appearance, observed that she served the state meritoriously during her tenure as the chief judge.
The Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, told Phillips that the job would require her to go round the state, unlike when she was a chief judge.
“You will now need to visit all the local governments in the state during the registration for the election and during the election proper. You must be ready to do the job as required so that we could have a free and fair election. We count on you since you were successful during your tenure as the chief judge,” he said.
Answering questions from the Speaker if it was possible to start speaking Yoruba Language in courts in the state, Philips said this would be impossible as some of the people who come to the courts would not understand the language.
“Some of the people, who come to the court do not understand Yoruba Language and when you start speaking Yoruba in the court, it would be a ground for appeal for someone, who does not understand Yoruba Language,” she said.
Also yesterday, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode approved the immediate dissolution of the caretaker committees of the 57 Local Governments Councils and Local Council Development Areas.
It followed the resolution of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
In a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Tunji Bello, the governor directed the executive secretaries to hand over the reins of administration to the head of administration in each of the council areas.
The dissolution of the caretaker committees is preparatory to the holding of elections into the council areas.
The Assembly had directed Ambode to dissolve the caretaker committees of the 20 local governments and 37 local council development council areas.
The lawmakers gave the governor the go ahead to appoint sole administrators to run the councils.
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LASIEC ‘ll conduct credible council poll
All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Segun Idris is a chairmanship aspirant in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State. In this interview, he says the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) would conduct a credible exercise.
How are you preparing for the local government election?
As a chairmanship aspirant in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area , I have been on ground to make sure that the needed information regarding the election gets to the people. We are all aware that the party is making a lot effort to create awareness and give all parties a level playing field which is critical to the successful conduct of the exercise. Because of the nature of politics in Nigeria, you find so many people reading interpretations to most political exercises like we currently have in Lagos as regards the local government election. But, the truth is that, in order to give Lagosians a free and fair exercise, the state government, I believe, is taking its time to put every necessary ingredient of a successful election in place. As an aspirant, it feels good that the Lagos State government is working to make sure that every one is carried along. I will tell say authoritatively that the House of Assembly in its supervisory capacity is doing its best to make sure that the election is successful. So, people should relax and expect the best from the government. Already, they are working on the LASIEC law to make sure that the agency is supported to supervise a credible electoral process. The governor is committed, that, he has done by sending the names of LASIEC commissioners.
Are saying that your party members are not agitated over the delay?
Even though we are expecting the election to hold any time, we will appreciate an election that is held when all necessary things are put in place. That is what I have been telling my supporters at the grassroots and they are fully in support of what the government is doing. So, we are not worried because we know that LASIEC and the state government are working for a credible exercise. All we need do is to support them to succeed. Without our support, the success of the poll will be relative that is why it is incumbent on everyone across party boundaries to support LASIEC in giving us a commendable exercise. The government is a responsive government and is aware of the feeling of the people, but they are making sure that the election is credible that is why the House is working on it. We have been telling our supporters that it is better to have a credible election than to have an election which its aftermath will be subject to much litigation. Among us, mobilisation and sensitization are taking place.
A section of the public has called on LASIEC to create more wards ahead of the election. do you think the state needs more wards?
The state needs more wards and more local governments. It is known that the population of Lagos is growing everyday and it is important that government is closer to this ever growing population. How can that be achieved? It is only by creating more wards, more local governments so that these people can feel the impact of governance. The primary essence of local government is for government to be closer to the people. If local government is far from the grassroots, whatever the state or the federal government is doing, will not connect properly with the people. If more wards are created, more developmental project will go to that area because the councillors will agitate for the development of those areas. The truth is that we need to expand and wards are created government will have further presence in those places. I believe that if the government can look at it from that angle, it will be better for the process. But that the agitation should not be unmindful of the economic situation of the country, because creating more wards means having extra financial responsibilities. Nevertheless, we have to consider the financial situation of the government but if the government feels it is buoyant enough to do so, that will be fine for the process. So, increase in population demands increase in the number of local governments. That is why we are also clamouring for a special status for Lagos State, to be able to govern its growing population better.
Do you have plans to make Amuwo Odofin self-sufficient to reduce dependence on the federal allocations?
There are so many ways that the local government can be self-sufficient, apart from collecting rates and that was captured in my blue print for Amuwo Odofin. Amuwo Odofin hosts so many people of ideas who have contributed in making the local government distinct in Lagos. So, I capitalised on the strategic nature of the local government when preparing my blue print, which will make Amuwo a reference point in Lagos and Nigeria. We also have one of the largest markets in Africa which is the Trade Fair Complex and we have plans to make it contributory to what comes into the local government. We have arable land in the local government which can be used for commercial farming. Having carried out a proper study of the possible areas of developing the council, I came up with a feasible blue print which I hope to implement when elected. And it is my hope that my dreams for Amuwo Odofin will come true.
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Training for LASIEC officers
To assist Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) to enhance its capacity in conducting elections, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) has organised a two-day voter education training programme for the commission electoral officers.
LASIEC chairman Justice Abdul Fatai Adeyinka (rtd) said the training was apt because the commission is planning for the council poll.
Adeyinka said voter education could make or mar an election, depending on how it is handled, adding that many of the challenges encountered during elections were caused by ignorance.
IFES Senior Election Operations Manager Mr Seray Jah said IFES was committed to expanding the democracy space in Nigeria.
He hailed the commission for its commitment to the improvement of the electoral process at the council level, stressing that LASIEC is far ahead of its peers in the country.
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LASIEC: why council poll is delayed
The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) yesterday explained the delay in its fixing of a date for the council poll.
He said the unavailability of the voter’s register and amendments of the electoral law were the cause of the delay.
LASIEC commissioner Mr Olalekan Mabinuori, who made this known at a Political Stakeholders Forum organised by the commission at Eko Club in Surulere, Lagos, said there were processes and modalities to be followed before fixing the date.
This, he said, was necessary following the shortcomings identified during the last council election.
He said: “The state’s electoral law is being amended at the House of Assembly and the governor will also have to assent to it before we can put the law to use. Also, the Voters’ Register is not yet with LASIEC and we are pursuing that vigorously. We are engaging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) so that they can begin another round of the Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) distribution. Once all these are in place, a date will be fixed and announced to the public,’’ Mabinuori said.
Home Affairs Commissioner Dr AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef, who was the guest speaker, hailed LASIEC for creating an avenue for parties and stakeholders to rub minds.
This, he said, would forestall allegation of bias against the commission, which has led to violence in other states.
“Once parties participating in an election believe in the impartiality of the umpire (LASIEC), allegations of election rigging would not surface and the process will be adjudged credible.
“Nigeria has a weak political culture that cannot support a virile democracy. It is imperative to put a proper electoral process in place. The political parties must eschew politics based on monetary inducement. Also, the ruling class must realise that power is transient; you are here today, tomorrow, you are gone,” he said.
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Foundation, LASIEC partner on capacity building
The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) will support Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) to conduct free, fair and credible elections into the state’s 57 councils. The state has 20 local governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).
At a meeting with LASIEC, the foundation’s representatives, Mrs Uloma Osuala and Mr Obaje Ukeh, said IFES was ready to hold a capacity building seminar for electoral officers and others on voter education. It will also develop manuals for the commission, design voter education materials and establish an election support centre to enable the commission monitor progress and development on the field on election day.
They hailed LASIEC for having a data base of ad-hoc staff it engaged in the last council election in the state.
Stressing the need for more effective collaboration between Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), the foundation called for the establishment of a functional secretariat for the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria (FOSIECON), an umbrella body for the country’s 36 SIECs.
LASIEC Chairman Justice Abdul-Fatai Adeyinka said the delineation of wards and creation of additional polling units embarked upon by the commission were intended to deepen democracy and make it more inclusive for those at the grassroots.
IFES is a Washington–based international non-profit organisation founded to provide assistance and support for elections in new and emerging democracies.