Massive Redeployment in INEC

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The Independent National Electoral commission  (INEC) yesterday announced the deployment of staff across the country to ensure efficient and optimal performance.

The deployment, first in over 20 years,  affected over 186 Staff, 46 Head of Departments  (HoD’s), and 140 Electotal Officers.

In a statement by the National Commissioner in charge of information and chairman of voter education, Festus Okoye, the  affected staff are either serving in their states of origin or have served for between 10 and 32 years in the same state.

Okoye said the commission considered  the development as unhealthy for the sensitive responsibilities they discharge.

Accordingly, he said, “In line with the Commission’s existing posting policy, henceforth no Head of Department (HoD) or Electoral Officer (EO) shall serve in his/her State of origin.

“Furthermore, no staff shall serve for more than two electoral cycles in the same duty post.”, he explained.

Consequently, Okoye said that  the Commission has identified 186 staff for immediate redeployment.

 Among them are 46 HoDs who are either serving in their states of origin or served for more than two electoral cycles in the same state as well as 140 EOs serving in their states of origin or served for more than two electoral cycles in the same state.

Okoye said that the redeployed staff were to complete the handover and takeover formalities not later than Wednesday March 9.

He said that the exercise  will be an ongoing one that will extend to other categories of staff in the Commission’s Headquarters, State and Local Government offices nationwide.