NGO Salutes Senate Over INEC’s Proposed Autonomy

A non-governmental organisation, the CLEEN Foundation, on Friday commended the Senate for granting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) financial autonomy.

Mr. Innocent Chukwuma, the Executive Director of CLEEN, told newsmen in Lagos that by the development INEC would now be truly independent in the discharge of its duties.

“This is a welcome development, which will give the body the independence to do its work and not worry about what the executive will feel about it,” he said.

The Senate had on Wednesday amended parts of the 1999 Constitution, granting INEC as well as the National and State Houses of Assembly financial autonomy.

Chukwuma, however, criticised the legislators for not demonstrating the political will to truly make the commission independent.

According to him, the refusal by the Senate to implementthe recommendations of the Justice Mohammed Uwais-led Electoral Reform Committee on the appointment of INEC chairman and board has tied the hand of the electoral umpire.

“What the Senate has done is to give financial autonomy on the one hand and on the other hand deny the commission the independence which the appointment of its board by the the National Judicial Council would have guaranteed,” he said.

Chukwuma also criticised the decision to legalise carpet crossing, saying it would encourage political prostitution.

“By legalising cross-carpeting from one party to another is to legalise political prostitution and deny party discipline and ideology in Nigeria,” he said.

The NGO director also commended the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review which endorsed independent candidacy in future elections.

The recommendation and others contained in the committee’s report submitted to the House on Thursday are designed to amend Sections 65, 106, 131 and 171 of the 1999 Constitution.