We aren’t treated like humans, corpers working as INEC ad hoc staff lament

Corps members who worked as ad hoc officials in the 2019 general elections in Ogun State have accused the Independent National Electoral Commission of “maltreating” them during the election exercise in the state.

The ad hoc officials, while lambasting INEC for allegedly treating them in “inhuman manner,” said INEC had not paid their food allowance, adding that some of them were yet to receive the training fee that had been due for payment five weeks ago.

When The PUNCH visited the INEC office in the Ipokia Local Government Area of the state around 12pm on Saturday, it was gathered that ad hoc officials had to spread mats and wrappers on the floor and on grasses to catch some sleep, while some of them slept inside the buses used in conveying them to their various polling units.

An ad hoc staff, Stephanie Marcus, said what she observed in the entire election exercise was that INEC never planned for them, as they were not provided adequate accommodation.

Marcus said, “INEC never planned for us because we were not treated like humans. Right from the day the election was postponed, we were never shown love and care. Indeed, they abandoned us.

“Even when we got to the INEC office in Ipokia,  adequate provision for accommodation was not in place and we had to sleep on old tables that were used in past elections.

“Some of us had to spread our wrappers on the grass to sleep and those who did not have wrappers slept on bare floor, with mosquito everywhere.

“Some even slept on the road because everywhere was filled up. We were over 100 at the INEC office.

“I can never take part in this exercise again even if they are going to pay me more, the sacrifice is not worth it. It took a protest before I could receive N4,500 as my training fee.”

Another ad-hoc staff, James Omon, a serving corp member, said INEC had a poor transportation arrangement, adding that some of them who were supposed to take part in the exercise could not make it down to their polling units due to the lack of transportation.

PUNCH

About Admin

Check Also

Breaking: EFCC Says, “Yahaya Bello Remains Wanted, Not In Our Custody”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says embattled former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, …

Leave a Reply