Politics
By Anthony Isibor
IN preparation for the 2023 general election, INEC, in partnership with European Centre for Electoral Support, ECES, has begun a five-day BRIDGE Modular training programme on access and participation of persons with disabilities, PWDs, in the electoral process for INEC Disability Desk Officers.
The training, which will last from Monday, April 25 to Friday, April 29, 2022, is part of the Commission’s Strategic Plan of Action, SPA, designed to sharpen and enrich the working knowledge of INEC’s new Desk Officers and refresh the memories of other officers with longer experience at the Disability Desk of their responsibilities as frontline implementers of the Commission’s PWDs’ policies.
Speaking at that opening ceremony in Lagos, the new National Commissioner and Chairman, Outreach and Partnership Committee, OPC of INEC, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, noted that the training will provide a veritable opportunity for him to interact and get a first-hand knowledge of field experiences and operational challenges, “so as to enable us forge a strategic bond for quality service delivery guided by international best practices on electoral inclusion.
The Desk Officers, at the end of the training, are expected to better appreciate the various innovations and the changing dynamics on PWD electoral issues, which are all built into the training modules of the five-day programme and also develop the capacity to cascade the training for a broader knowledge on issues on disability inclusion at your respective stations.
In his remark, Prof. Ajayi said that the ability of all stakeholders to access and participate in the electoral space on the basis of equality is a non negotiable minimum requirement of a credible and democratic electioneering process.
According to him, Section 54 (2) of the Electoral Act 2022 and other legal instruments empower the Commission to take reasonable steps to ensure that PWDs, special needs and vulnerable persons are given support at the polling place by the provision of assistive devices.
“The Commission also has as one of its core values, the creation of a level playing field for all stakeholders to participate in, especially the marginalized groups, including the PWDs.
He also noted that the PWDs are the leading contact points to provide strong support to the mainstreaming of disabilities’ issues into the electoral process at your various states, and to offer assistance to the capacity-building of election personnel for enhanced knowledge and response to PWDs’ matters during elections.
“Desk Officers of the Commission count on your expertise as foot soldiers on PWDs responsive policies for effective coordination and implementation of its disability focal programmes as you will put the knowledge you acquire here to a good use.
“This underscores the importance of the training, even more so, as the general elections and stand-alone elections are upcoming,” he said.
Prof. Ajayi, who reiterated the Commission’s unwavering commitment to PWDs sensitive actions, as regards Access and Participation in the Electoral Process, also thanked the ECES for supporting the Commission in the BRIDGE Modular training and other contributions of the Centre towards the advancement of democracy and its values in Nigeria.
“The support from ECES and other stakeholders has helped to reform and grow our systems of elections, their processes, and outcomes. It is indeed in the interest of participatory democracy in Nigeria to sustain the strategic partnership
“The Commission also places high premium on its collaboration with development partners to sustain the multi-stakeholders’ synergy for credible and inclusive electoral process for a sustainable democracy in Nigeria,” he added.
– Apr. 27, 2022 @ 10:58 GMT | A I.
Tags: INEC Prof. Kunle Ajayi
