ABUJA—The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega has commended the effort of the National Orientation Agency, NOA, at educating the Nigerian voting public and electoral stakeholders on their roles and responsibilities in ensuring hitch-free elections in Nigeria.

He said this when the Minister for Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Mohammed accompanied by the Director General, NOA, Alhaji Idi Farouk paid him an advocacy visit recently. Professor J ega said he was impressed by the programmes already executed by the agency and those it has outlined in its bid to help INEC conduct free, fair and credible elections come 2011.

To this end, INEC has agreed to set up a joint committee to foster massive participation of the electorate in the 2011 electoral process, especially the creation of a new voters’ register and massive turn-out of voters’ during the elections.

Addressing the minister, the INEC boss said “We as a Commission intend to do our best to bring about a new voters register which is a pre-condition for conducting free, fair and credible elections. This is only possible if we strengthen existing relationships. We will work closely with your ministry to ensure that a joint committee with the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, NOA, INEC and other stakeholders comes into being… God willing, the aspirations of Nigerians for free, fair and credible elections will be satisfied”.

While informing the host that NOA, under the supervision of the ministry has always been at the fore front of voter education in Nigeria , he observed the need for a joint committee on voter education and mobilization made up of INEC, NOA and the ministry to be set up and commence work immediately on electoral sensitization and mobilization.

According to him, “NOA has trained volunteers on political and voter education, held interactive sessions with civil society and other stakeholders and published manifestoes of some political parties as its contribution towards achieving successful elections in

Nigeria.  As a ministry whose Agency feels the pulse of the nation, every indication shows that the expectation of Nigerians and even the international community of Independent National Electoral Commission is enormous … I do hope that at the end of the 2011 election we can beat our chest of having done a good job”, said Alh. Sadiq Mohammed.

Seizing the opportunity to congratulate the newly appointed INEC Chairman, the Minister wished him a fruitful tenure and prayed for a successful 2011 general elections.