2015: INEC gets ballot paper design machines

By Yusuf Alli 

 

Prof. Jega

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has received ballot paper design machines as the election agency intensifies  preparations for the 2015 elections.
The election agency confirmed that it is in receipt of 17 out of 22 equipment meant for its Graphics Centre where ballot papers for the 2015 polls will be designed.
The commission also explained that once it is in control of design of its ballot papers, the issue of fake copies will not arise.
It claimed that it is restructuring its personnel to put square pegs in square holes.
Chief Press Secretary to INEC chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, who  made the clarifications in an interview with our correspondent,  said the costs of the equipment are borne by  International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES).
Since 2007 elections, IFES has been providing technical assistance and strategic capacity building for INEC.
Idowu said: “INEC, with the support of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) is setting up a Graphics Centre that will give it in-house capacity to develop and produce its civic / voter education materials, design and produce training manuals and allied materials, design drafts of ballot papers, print small-scale education materials, among others. 
“So far, 17 items of equipment have been delivered; five more items will be coming in a couple of days; and others by month-end.”
Idowu gave an insight into how the graphics centre will be managed.
He added: “The centre will be fully manned by specially trained staff of the Commission, with all the quality-control processes in place; hence the issue of fake ballot papers does not arise.
 “The staff with graphics and computer skills are being pooled, both from the headquarters and state offices of INEC. 
“The centre is largely a graphics centre; the issue of printing of ballot papers is not in the equation (maybe yet). As for costs (of the Centre equipment?), these are borne largely by IFES.”
Idowu added: “Mechanisms for stopping late delivery of ballot papers “by contractors” include ensuring early printing.
“But really, late delivery of ballot papers hasn’t been an issue for the Commission even before now.”
On the ongoing reforms in the commission, he said it is aimed at achieving efficiency.
He added: “Highlights of restructuring in INEC involves “putting square pegs in square holes” and making the entire organisation very nimble and efficient; such that it could deliver free, fair and credible elections as a norm, not an exception.”
The Nation had exclusively reported that the Chairman of INEC and his team have agreed to merge the 29 departments in the commission into nine (9) between now and January 2013.
Although the chairman wanted seven departments, the National Commissioners insisted on nine.
The restructuring is based on the system review of the commission by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
The audit firm’s report reads in part: “Over departmentalised and sectionalised corporate structure. The corporate structure has too many departments, directorates and units, some of which were created to satisfy selfish growth interests and in some cases to prevent discord between staff on the sa
“Absence of a strategic thinking role for the commission. The corporate structure did not make provision for a corporate planning and development functions whose responsibility will include facilitation of strategic planning process and the coordination of the commission’s development initiatives. This creates difficulty in strategic planning and continuous improvement.”

SOURCE: 14 September 2012.