By Ben Agande
ABUJA — In what is seen as an indication of some of the changes that would come in the Indpendent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Chairman of Commission, Professor Attahiru Jega, refused to receive briefings from the two deputy secretaries of the commission, saying their position was not recognised by any of the statutes of the commission nor the commission’s Condition of Service.

According to impeccable sources, after briefings from Directors and other directing staff of the commission, Jega told the two deputy secretaries of the commission, Steve Osemeke and Johnson that he could not take any briefing from them.

Following the directive by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Steve Oransaye, that all Directors who had served for more than eight years should be retired, the former Chairman of INEC, Professor Maurice Iwu created the position of deputy secretary to accommodate some of his directors who had served as directors for more than 12 years.

The positions were those of deputy secretary in charge Administration, Publicity and Operations.

Since the appointment of Jega as chairman of INEC, there have been some disquiet in the commission especially with his revelation that he would carry out a reorganisation of the place.

A source at INEC who was privy to the exchange between INEC chairman and the two deputy secretaries told Vanguard that “after the briefing from the directors, the two deputy secretaries also went in to brief the commission but were shocked when the chairman told them that their position was not recognised.

“The chairman now turned to the Secretary of the Commission and asked him: ‘What do you need deputy secretaries for, are you not competent?’ to which the Secretary replied: ‘I Am competent.’ There is fear that the chairman may scrap the position of deputy secretaries,” the source who does not want his name mentioned said.

Meanwhile, members of the commission will today embark on a facility tour of the commission while they would be expected to proceed to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State for a retreat where they are expected to brainstorm on the way forward for the commission.

It is also expected that decisions on the planned reorganisation in the commission would be taken at the retreat.