…Urges FG to use innovative technology to achieve credible poll

By Emeka Aginam

Barely thirty days to the 2015 Presidential elections, the delay in the distribution of Permanent Voters Card, (PVCs) by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has continued to attract concern among stakeholders in the industry.

The delay in the printing of PVC coupled with the challenge of security in the North-east part of the country, according to the concerned stakeholders in the Nigeria IT sector leave little room for confidence in the entire electoral process

Meanwhile, INEC earlier extension of PVC distribution was   intended to give registered voters yet to collect their PVCs the opportunity to do so in readiness for the cancelled February 2015 general election.

With barely one week to the end of the extension granted by the INEC for registered voters to pick their PVCs as much as 15 million PVCs are still lying at the various collection centres across the country.

The latest breakdown from INEC as at February 23 indicates that 53,466, 635 out of a total of 68,833,476 registered voters have collected their PVCs, representing 77.68 per cent. According to the information, Gombe, Zamfara, Jigawa, Katsina, Kaduna and Akwa Ibom States have the highest number of collected PVCs with 95.05 per cent, 93.42 per cent, 93.20 per cent, 92.68 per cent, 91.98 per cent and 91.28 per cent respectively.

Address IT issues in 2015 poll

FILE PHOTO: Lagosians checking their names on the INEC list of permanent voters cards (PVC) .

Worried with this development, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), an umbrella body of the Nigerian IT professionals   has called on the Federal Government to urgently address relevant Information Technology (IT) development and IT sector issues in light of the ongoing 2015 electoral process to position and sustain democracy in Nigeria.

The President of the NCS , Prof. David Adewumi, while reacting to the current scenario said that for Nigeria to achieve credible election, application IT is imperative.

Improved and innovative utilization of technology

Committed to playing its advocacy role to ensure Nigeria receives the very best in the 2015 elections, NCS, according to him, is advocating for improved and innovative utilization of Information Technology (IT) in the organization of free, fair and credible elections in 2015 and in future elections in Nigeria.

While IT professionals recognize the IT contributions and initiatives of the INEC , he noted that there was need for improved project management in the deployment of IT as well as security management.

Delays in PVC distribution worrisome

“Logistic issues and delays in PVC distribution being experienced are painfully not ideal in today’s 21st century.

“Further innovation of the electoral management process is required with inputs from NCS and stakeholders, most especially in terms of considering electronic voting for future elections.

“The 2015 elections are about the future of Nigeria.

Critical matters

“And the role of IT is critical to development and growth. Though there has been improvement, a lot still needs to be done. As the 2015 election approaches, NCS challenges present and aspiring political leaders to prioritize IT sector productivity as well as improved impact and depth of IT development”, he noted.

NCS, he said was concerned that those seeking votes were not addressing these critical matters. “We urge the electorate to ask questions and raise issues at all levels with all parties and their candidates about their plans for building an innovative economy to create jobs and address the nation’s developmental challenges.

“ In particular, answers are needed about what they will do to strengthen important government agencies in IT, most especially National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN).

Use IT professionals in project

“Quite importantly what will they do about legislation to foster the development of IT and IT enabled activities, Growth of the IT profession and Industry, professionalizing the industry (Having IT Professionals on the boards of MDAs) and Preferential usage of Nigerian professionals in IT projects”, he explained.

Violence free and issue based campaigns

The NCS President said that the umbrella IT body is also calling for violence free and issue based campaigns, improved and innovative election management and the election of innovative and informed leaders. “Continuing with the status quo is not in the nation’s best interests. Nigeria Computer Society is ready and willing to partner with INEC and other stakeholders in these matters towards the upliftment of our dear nation Nigeria”, he added.