» Message from the Chairman

A WELCOME ADDRESS PRESENTED BY THE NATIONAL CHAIRMAN OF THE FORUM OF STATE INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF NIGERIA (FOSIECON) ON THE OCCASION OF THE FORUM’S MEETING AT MINNA THE NIGER STATE CAPITAL, HOLDING FROM 6TH TO 9TH DECEMBER, 2011.

Protocol

I am highly delighted to welcome The Chief Servant, Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu CON (Talban Minna, Sodangi Nupe) Governor of Niger State and everybody here including all the Honourable Chairmen and Commissioners representing the 36 State Independent Electoral Commissions in Nigeria to this special meeting of FOSIECON. As a routine the Forum meets bi-monthly at a chosen venue in Abuja. However Niger State Independent Electoral Commission with the full support of the Governor and Government of Niger State is hosting the Forum at Minna today. The initiative of the Executive Governor of Niger State and the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission to host us is appreciated.

I shall acquaint the Chief Servant of Niger State Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu CON with the origin of the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commission of Nigeria (FOSIECON). As soon as the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria became operational in 1999 some States in Nigeria established the State Independent Electoral Commissions in compliance with section 197 of the said Constitution which compels the establishment of State Independent Electoral Commission in each state of the Federation.

The Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria was conceived by the pioneer Chairman of Kebbi State Independent Electoral Commission late Alhaji Ja’faru Zagga. He worked tirelessly to ensure that the Forum was firmly established to provide an avenue where Chairmen of State Independent Electoral Commissions would meet occasionally to share their experiences. It was at the instance of FOSIECON that the Local Government Elections 2004 took place the same day throughout the Federation.

FOSIECON is not an illegal organization. By virtue of Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended every person is entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons and in particular he may form or belong to any political party, trade union or any other association for the protection of his interests.

It has been the practice of State Independent Electoral Commission to observe Local Government Council elections conducted by any State Independent Electoral Commission in any of the geo-political zones in Nigeria. The Forum was opportune to observe the Local Government Council Elections in Niger State on 8th October, 2011. On behalf of the Forum I want to thank The Chief Servant of Niger State for his support to the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission to successfully conduct the Local Government Council Elections and the hospitality accorded members of the Forum.

As a deliberate policy FOSIECON holds National Delegates Conference periodically in a chosen state. The conference provides an opportunity for the Chairmen, Members and other top officials of the SIECs to come together, listen to papers presented by specialists on matters concerning Democracy, Electoral Process and good governance. So far the North-West, South-West, North-East, South-South and South-East zones have hosted the conference leaving North-Central Zone yet to host.

FOSIECON uses this golden opportunity to solicit the State Independent Electoral Commissions and the Governments of the North-Central State geo-political zone to take up the challenge of hosting the conference in the near future.

I use this opportunity to inform The Chief Servant that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria as partners in the development of the electoral process in Nigeria have agreed to collaborate with each other in their bid to sustain unfettered democracy in Nigeria. For the first time Chairmen, Commissioners and Secretaries of the Electoral Bodies had a National Consultative Retreat at the Nike Lake Hotel Enugu from 16th to 18th November, 2011. The Retreat was sponsored by the International Foundation of Election Systems (IFES). Well researched papers were presented by eminent Resource persons on the following topics.

i. Retreat Objectives and Overview

ii. Legal Instruments and the Structure of the SIECs

iii. Local Government Elections as the Foundation of Good Governance.

iv. Enhancing the participation of women and Youths in the Electoral Process.

At the end of the Retreat a Communiqué was issued on a number of relevant issues geared towards improved electoral services delivery at the Local, State and National levels in Nigeria.
The State Independent Electoral Commissions and all lovers of Democracy are however grieved by the increasing rate of appointing people to manage or run the affairs of Local Government Councils in disregard to the use of people who have emerged through democratic processes as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as amended. The circumvention of this aspect of the said Constitution by some State Governments is not in tune with their oath of office which they swore to protect that Supreme Law in Nigeria.

Secondly, there is now a tendency of having many unopposed candidates for the Chairmanship and Councillorship elections. The trend if not checked will erode the confidence of the electorate in the electoral process especially when the parties use all sorts of intrigues and manipulations not to conduct free and fair primaries for their candidates thereby undermining the electoral process. In the circumstance above the State Independent Electoral Commissions will propose an amendment to Section 7 of the said Constitution to provide that elections into the Local Government Councils in Nigeria shall be held at least three months before the expiration of the tenure of the incumbent Local Government Councils.

The SIECs are aware that almost all political parties in Nigeria neither believe nor practice internal democracy thereby preventing the growth of Constitutional democracy as understood and practiced worldwide.

The State Independent Electoral Commissions are also called upon to ensure that the Laws which established their Commissions made provisions for the monitoring of the Primaries of the political parties by the State Independent Electoral Commissions. Efforts must be made to ensure compliance with the Commission’s guidelines for the Local Government Elections and the Laws.

The Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria recently had audience with the Chairman of the Governors Forum to apprise the body of some problems that are considered inimical to the growth of democracy at the Local Government level.

First and foremost is the problem of funding of State Independent Electoral Commissions. While the Independent National Electoral Commission and the National Judicial Council are funded from the Consolidated Revenue of the Federal Government, the State Independent Electoral Commissions which were created by section 197 of the same 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended are not enjoying the same facility. Funding the State Electoral bodies from the Consolidated Revenue of the States will ensure greater independence of the SIECs.

The need to fund State Independent Electoral Commissions on the First Line Charge like INEC and the National Judicial Council is sought mainly for the conduct of free, fair and credible elections at the Local Government level.

The Forum has also proposed for the Joint Funding of the State Independent Electoral Commissions by the States and the Local Governments. Instead of the states to seek support from the Local Governments for the conduct of such elections, the contributions of the Local Government for their elections should be formalized and sent directly to the State Independent Electoral Commissions. The Forum has also written the Executive Governors of each State on the Joint Funding of SIECs. All that needs to be done is to streamline the funding of SIECs to ensure that the Local Governments contribute to the funding of their elections.

FOSIECON uses this medium to request that the Chief Servant Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu CON (Talban Minna, Sodangi Nupe) Governor of Niger State to support the proposal of the SIECs on the issue of the funding of State Independent Electoral Commission generally.

I want to end this address by thanking the Chief Servant Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu CON (Talban Minna, Sodangi Nupe) Governor of Niger State for his presence at this arena to honour the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria. The Forum’s meeting at Minna the state capital of Niger State is the one of its kind in the life of FOSIECON.

The peaceful atmosphere that has prevailed in Niger State since your service as the Chief Servant marks you out among so many. FOSIECON prays for you for more successes. FOSIECON thanks the people and Government of Niger State for remaining loyal to your Administration. The Forum thanks everybody here present as the occasion will further popularize FOSIECON and the State Independent Electoral Commissions in Nigeria and beyond. The Chief Servant will be requested to kindly declare the FOSIECON meeting open.

Thank you and God bless.

ALHAJI ALHASSAN A SADIQ
NATIONAL CHAIRMAN
FOSIECON