While Nigeria's election chief promises smooth vote, his staff asks for life insurance, police

By Jon Gambrell (CP)

March 17 2011

ABUJA, Nigeria — While Nigeria's election chief wanted to discuss ethics with his staffers Thursday ahead of pivotal April polls, poll workers asked about more practical concerns in the oil-rich and restive country.

Among them: How does one bribe police officers enough to pull guard duty on election day?

"If we inform the police, most of the time ,  they come to the area and ask you for money and for other assistance to do their job," said Michael Osayande, an election official in Niger state.

Staff from the Independent National Electoral Commission asked for life insurance and worried aloud about ethnic and religious violence during the meeting with Jega, the assistant university chancellor picked to manage the nation's election.

Those problems illuminate the tough task Jega faces, as his popular appeal alone won't be enough to manage polls in a nation where elections have been marred by rigging, intimidation and violence since it became a democracy more than a decade ago.

Lawmakers confirmed Jega, 54, as head of the electoral commission in June, giving him a year to confront a challenge gnawing at Nigeria since its independence from Britain in 1960. Corruption and troubled elections mark the nation's history in between long bouts of military rule. Politicians strive for power and the purse strings of a nation funded billions of dollars in oil revenues with little financial oversight.

Jega won praise for deciding to scrap Nigeria's infamous voter registry, which included entries such as Mike Tyson, Nelson Mandela and Muhammad Ali. Officials used that registry in the country's 2007 election, which represented the first civilian-to-civilian transfer of power in the nation's history. However, international observers roundly rejected the poll as being rigged and marred by thuggery.

"A credible voter's register is the foundation of a credible election process," Jega said Thursday. "We believe, now, we have a credible register, not a perfect register, but certainly a register which is substantially much, much better."

The election commission spent more than $230 million to purchase laptop computers, digital cameras and fingerprint scanners to register voters across the country in roughly 120,000 locations. But the process saw long lines and anger as the machines failed to properly take fingerprints. A follow-up period for voters to check their registration saw many unable to find the lists that were supposed to be on display.

Officials later announced 73.5 million people registered to vote, up from 61 million in the previous election. However, some critics and opposition candidates have questioned the high registration numbers, considering the problems election officials had during the process. Taken at face value, the registration numbers also imply election officials had at least an 80 per cent success rate at registering eligible voters in a country with large rural regions.

But registration remains only part of the "very difficult exercise," Jega acknowledged. On the days of the elections, officials will be largely on their own in areas where bribery and threats are rife.

President Goodluck Jonathan's ruling People's Democratic Party has been the only force in the nation able to manipulate the unruly polls to hold the presidency. He is running to extend his mandate in Africa's most populous nation.

Election officials also fear ethnic and religious tensions spilling over into the polls. At least 50 people have died already in election-related violence, Human Rights Watch has said. During the January registration drive, a Christian mob killed a Muslim election worker and set his body ablaze in the troubled central Nigerian city of Jos.

Jega promised workers they would get money to give police officers to pay for their meals as they guard election sites. He also said the commission would offer life insurance, which drew applause.

"These problems will be brought down to the barest, manageable levels," Jega said.

But during a January rerun gubernatorial election in Delta state, there continued to be missing polling stations and allegations of stolen ballot boxes. In that election, more than 20,000 police officers were on hand and Jega even flew by helicopter to various polling sites in the Niger Delta region.

Caught by a CNN camera crew after boarding his helicopter, Jega offered a series of reasons for the poor performance.

"No one is voting because in those areas people are taking the law into their own hands," Jega said.
"Many of our officers have been attacked, many of our voting materials have been diverted in many of these places you are talking about. So it cannot be our fault."

Come April, as voting takes place across a nation twice the size of California, Nigerians likely will put the blame on Jega if it all goes wrong.



http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jIamDEsZJZKXnY7sbK_ojrF5HAcQ?docId=6276969   -Via Canadian press.


http://www.statesman.com/news/nation/nigerian-election-staff-ask-for-life-insurance-1327934.html

Good idea. Jega can bring out the best of the election staff by doing this and more.

For example, there can be a predefined performance award to be given to INEC staff who record no irregularities at their centres during the election. Also, very severe punishments should be predefined for those who are found to have engaged in malpractice. This may give them something to look forward to as well as something to be afraid of.

These guys are scared and I cannot blame them at all.

It is a shame that after 12 years of Democracy, with all the examples to learn from, we still have a police force that is controlled by the federal Government and by extention the ruling party, they lack independence, they are poorly funded and poorly trained. And we expect them to be fair? are they Mother Theresas?

How do you play a football match when the Referee is hired(can be fired) and paid for by your opponent?

Now, INEC staff are worried they might need to bribe the police more than the polical parties, else the Police will aid the election riggers or neglect their duty on election day. . .SMH

Even my beloved Manchester United, without hiring or paying match referee salaries, we are constantly accused of cheating by sore losers like Arsenal and Chelsea   

The federal government controls the police, and the PDP incumbent = FG. I guess the people will need to help INEC staff out on election day. 

How does one bribe police officers enough to pull guard duty on election day?

Very sad but important question. . .

True talk

^^ Yes o, They need protection from win or die politicians and their thugs.

I can't fault Adams Oshiomhole for threatening violent election "riggers" with death

These INEC people are actually brave and selfless, I mean, they are simply asking for life insurance in case they get killed.

I think they should also be given ammunition and bullet proof armor to protect themselves. They will need it.

Does that life insurance equate to more unbudgeted cash?

***shudders** while I support their idea, the possible implication makes me wonder if it is even right to admit I agree with their demand . . . ,

yeah good idea because u never can tell

We shouldnt allow these politicians rig these elections this year. We should all be involved. It is not just the responsibility of INEC. ?it is our collective responsibility. Meanwhile, there is this cool website (www.reclaimnaija.net) that allows for citizen's reporting of electoral happenings. This way, Nigerian citizens can monitor the elections from their own polling zones.

wevote:

We shouldnt allow these politicians rig these elections this year. We should all be involved. It is not just the responsibility of INEC. ?it is our collective responsibility. Meanwhile, there is this cool website (www.reclaimnaija.net) that allows for citizen's reporting of electoral happenings. This way, Nigerian citizens can monitor the elections from their own polling zones.

lol advertising strategy LMAO

Insurers can pay INEC’s N168b compensation, says NAICOM

THE National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has said insurance companies have the capacity to pay the N168 billion compensation for those insured by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against any incidents during the ongoing election.
Commissioner for Insurance Mr Fola Daniel told The Nation that the industry has been repositioned to handle large risks, adding that claims arising from the elections would be paid promptly.

He urged the public to embrace insurance because it remains the best strategy to mitigate risks. He noted that the companies handling the election policy would act promptly on the claims from the last Suleja and Maiduguri bomb blasts.
He said: "Insurance mechanising is real and the era where companies fail to pay genuine claims is gone. People should believe in insurance mechanism, which is the best way to mitigate risks.
"For INEC’s insurance cover for the election, the individual companies have the capacity to pay the claims which have reinsurance backing the risks."
He said NAICOM was pleased that adequate insurance cover was provided by the INEC for the commission will collaborate with the agency to ensure that adequate claims are paid promptly to beneficiaries of those who lost their lives as well as those wounded in the bomb blast.
Head of Corporate Communications, Standard Alliance Insurance Plc, Mr Nelson Egboboh, said his company, which is one of the underwriters of the risk, is poised to pay claims promptly, adding that INEC has paid its premium for the risks.
He urged the public to always consider insurance as a means of mitigating uncertainties.Egboboh could not confirm if INEC has filed claims for the bomb blast incidence.
Insurers are to pay about N11.2million claims for officers and ad-hoc staff of INEC who died in bomb blasts.
The risk, which was covered by six insurance firms, provides a total life insurance compensation package of N168 billion, with each officer and ad-hoc staff having a cover up to N700, 000.
The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, at a press conference in Abuja, said the victims were covered with life insurance. Prior to the incidence, Jega, said the value of the insurance coverage, is at the rate of N700, 000, each for the corps member who loses his/her life during the voters registration and voting exercise, adding that the group life insurance package for the exercise, provides a total life insurance compensation package of N168 billion.
In the insurance package, INEC insured its vehicles on a zoning arrangement, with six insurance firms. Law Union & Rock Insurance is in charge of the Northeast (Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe states.
Consolidated Hallmark Insurance is in charge of North central (Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau states, and the Federal Capital Territory).
Guaranty Trust Insurance covers South east (Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo states).
Fin Insurance oversees Southsouth (Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers states).
Mutual Benefit Assurance, Southwest (Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo states ) and Leadway Assurance, Northwest which takes care of Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states.
AIICO is responsible for vehicles at INEC headquarters.

http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/business/insurance/3535-insurers-can-pay-inec%E2%80%99s-n168b-compensation,-says-naicom.html