David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka
Over 150 adhoc staff members of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who worked in Anambra during the just concluded elections have protested non-payment of their allowances.
The visibly angry protesters, who thronged the INEC Headquarters in Awka, carrying placards, called for the immediate payment of their allowances.
The protesters carried placards with inscriptions that depicted their disenchantment with the commission such as; ‘pay us our money’, ‘INEC you cannot eat out money’, ‘labourers are worth their wages’, among several others.
Chanting derogatory songs against INEC, the protesters blocked the gate to the commission, refusing most vehicles entry and exit.
One of the protesters, who spoke to journalists on condition of anonymity said: “We were only paid N3,000 as feeding allowance on the day of the election while the balance of N14,000 is being owed us for each of the two elections (presidential and national assembly, and state house of assembly election).
“They are about to conclude the issue of payment, yet we have not been paid. They told us that the problem was with Access Bank and Zenith Bank and we were told to submit other bank accounts, which we did, yet they are have not paid us.
“We’re over 300 that have not received our allowances. All we are asking is that INEC pays us the money they agreed to pay us. It is only in Nigeria that people work and do not get paid.
“We all know the risk associated with conducting elections in this part of the country. Yet, we defied the odds and risked our lives to ensure that democracy is sustained and the only way INEC wants to pay us back is by owing us.
“This is quite unfair and we want to call on the appropriate authorities to look into this matter and ensure that we get our monies,” the protester pleaded.
Attempts to reach the Resident Electoral Commissioner in-charge of INEC in Anambra, Dr Queen Elizabeth Agwu, was not successful as his phone rang out without answer.
