INEC VEP Eulogies Retired Directors, Staff

INEC VEP Eulogies Retired Directors, Staff

As INEC secretary showers encomium on former colleagues

By David Lawani, Abuja

The Voter Education & Publicity Department, VEP, of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has expressed it deep appreciation to retiring directors and staff of the department who have contributed their quota to the Commission after a meritorious service to the nation.

In a remark to bide the retirees a wonderful send forth, held at the Valencia Hotel in Abuja, the Secretary to INEC, Mrs Rose Oriaran-Anthony congratulated all the retirees saying they all deserved to be celebrated and honoured because of their services to the Commission over the years..

She commended all of them stressing that no service can be more than the one any citizen can render to his or her nation. She recalled all the fond memories she had working with all the directors in the Commission right from Lagos to Abuja.

According to her: ” On a personal note, since I became the secretary to the Commission, I have no leave of my own anymore.  Honestly speaking, I do not have a life anymore.  I will need to do something but  I don’t have the time.

” There are certain things that I have to do with my improvement, our professional body, the NIPR. This girl, referring to (Mrs Chinwe Ogbuka) will go over to do it for me. The only thing she will not do is to sign for me. I appreciate you. God bless you.

” You have all served this Commission pleasantly and meritoriously. You bowed out with your heads held high. No blemish or complaints. Please we want you to continue to represent us as good ambassadors because when we see you, we are proud that you came out of this Commission.

” You have served this country. Know it to day that at anytime, you might be call upon again to come and serve. Either the Commission or the nation. And in whatever capacity you are called upon to serve, do not say no when you can say yes”, she sang.

Speaking also, the National Commissioner and Chair, of the Legal Department, Mrs May Agbamuche- Mbu in her contribution noted that since working with the retirees, they have all distinguished themselves in various ways such that words will not be sufficient to capture it all.

According to her: ” God has seen you all through this journey safely and you have retired with your dignity intact. The truth is that, to serve in INEC and this country, is by divine grace. I have only been here for six years plus but you have all put in more than twenty, thirty years and now retired.

” That is a lot of years. And you are still looking very good. This chapter has closed but a new chapter has opened.  May the new chapter be better than the past. May you rise to greater heights. You will live in good health to see your children, children”.

Mrs May reiterated that INEC is a community and there has been love amongst staff of the Commission noting that may it continue to be well with everyone in the Commission.

Chief Technical Adviser to INEC Chairman, Professor Bolade Eyinla in his goodwill message to the retirees advised them to shun anything that will jeopardise their health. He said health is key and early warning signs should not be treated with levity.

Eyinla urged staff of the Commission to borrow leaf from the retiring staff who have done so well in serving the Commission with an unblemished records stating that if there is anything he is worried about, it is the quality of work to the Commission.

He said: ” Service to fatherland is important. If there is anything that I am getting scared of, is that, we are beginning to see some level of reduction in the quality of service. And that is very worrisome.  But, I am sure that with the kind of people that we have mentored, these people will fill your shoes.

” Usually, I don’t say this. But I will say it today. INEC is the most challenging place that you can work. You come and you think it is all about appearing on television. But when you get to the nitty-gritty of the job, then you will know.

” Your health after retirement is key. Please don’t play with your health. Pay attention to symptoms.  By the time you get sick, it is because you didn’t pay sufficient attention to symptoms. Please pay attention to symptoms.  Use your medications. If you have high blood pressure don’t say it is not my portion”, he advised.

Earlier, the Acting Director of Voter Education & Publicity Department Mrs. Mary Nkem in her opening speevh maintained that the Commission is particularly delighted and grateful for the services the retirees have contributed to the success of the Commission outing in elections, saying she will miss them all but pray to God to continue to guide and protect them all in their future endeavours.

Nkem stated: “It is with this in mind that the Voter Education and Publicity Department, VEP is highly motivated by the honourable national Commissioners and members of the Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, deemed it very absolute and necessary to celebrate these special individuals who have made the Commission and the country at large proud.

” To come through all these years of service in good health, having made immense contributions to the development of the Voter Education and Publicity Department, promoting democracy and, you know, doing a lot of advancement in democracy, so the country at large, and also laundering the image of the Commission and doing so with so much commitment and unblemished record is no mean feat at all and should be celebrated.

” The Department is using this forum to appreciate these special persons for their good works and particularly the zeal they showed through their immeasurable contributions over the many years to the growth of the Department in particular and to democracy at large”, she noted.

Those who have retired includes the immediate past Director VEP, Mr. Victor Aluko, and his predicessor, Nick Darzang.

Also, those honoured were Chukwuemeka Ugboaja (PhD), Andy Ezeani, and Chinwe Ogbuka, who retired as Deputy Directors.

Other staff of the department who were recognised for their meritorious service includes Mrs. Peace Ugo, Mrs. Josephine Ozoemena and Mrs.Dorathy Iyang who were recently transfered to serve in Cross River State as Head of Election and Party Monitoring Department in the state.