BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

LAGOS – ASSOCIATION of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, yesterday, called on Nigerians to show understanding in the challenges confronting the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in its efforts to conduct   free, fair and credible elections in the country

This came as the association faulted INEC’s printing of ballot papers abroad by the Commission which denied Nigerians jobs and other benefits.

In a statement in Lagos, ASCSN Secretary-General, Mr.Solomon Onaghinon, argued that  what the INEC and its Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, needed most now was encouragement from all stakeholders to ensure that the 2011 elections met internationally accepted standards.

Mr. Onaghinon who also the Deputy President-General of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, said “We should not always rush to condemn public officers once there is a lapse in policy implementation because they are human beings.

Rather, what I think we should do in this instance is to commend Professor Jega for his courage to admit and take responsibility for the botched National Assembly election due to the late arrival of ballot papers.  I urge him and his lieutenants to ensure that this flop does not repeat itself in the rescheduled elections now fixed for 9th April, 16th April, and 26th 2011 respectively.”