President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Abdulwahed Omar has called for a truly independent electoral commission to ensure the conduct of credible elections in 2011.

Speaking in an interview with  newsmen in Abuja, Omar said Jega must be given a free hand to do his job to the satisfaction of Nigerians.

“The nomination of Jega was not enough, the Presidency must also ensure that he is given the necessary freedom and protection needed to discharge his duties,’’ Omar said.

He described Jega as a man of his words and principled, stressing that, “no influence should be put on him if Nigeria must have credible elections in 2011”.

“If it goes this way, certainly Nigeria would be assured of free and fair elections that would entrench good governance,’’ Omar said.

He urged the National and Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) to work closely with Jega in order to facilitate good governance through credible election.

He noted that one of the challenges confronting Jega would be the credibility of the RECs whom he would work with.

 He said that Jega, having served as a member of the Justice Mohammed Uwais-led Electoral Reform Committee, would understand the demands of conducting acceptable elections.

He called for the serialisation and colouring of the ballot boxes to guard against electoral mal-practices.

“That was what we witnessed during the 1977 election when any ballot papers wrongly taken from one state to another would not be useful,’’ Omar noted.

He also called for the release of results at polling booths shortly after the casting of votes.

“By this, we can have free, fair and credible elections to guarantee good governance and entrench sustainable democracy,’’ he added.

Omar called on Nigerians to be patriotic and avoid electoral hooliganism that would lead to a breach of peace.

He also urged politicians to eschew bitterness and rancour but cooperate with the leadership of the electoral umpire to move the country forward.

“Let every eligible voter see the importance of his vote and as well guard it to ensure the support of the campaign for one-man, one- vote,’’ he said.

He disclosed that the NLC would stage a bigger sensitisation campaign of one-man, one-vote in Abuja.

“This would greatly check the problem of selecting representatives instead of electing them”.

“Now the era of allocation of results will be over because we are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel”.

“Nigerians should now have confidence that they are going to be the people to decide who becomes leaders through votes.