The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially retired 10 of its directors heading different departments from active service.
This came after they attained the mandatory 60 years of age or 35 years of service.
The retirees are: Mrs. Blessing Obidiegwu (Gender and Inclusivity); Anthony Abarowei (Finance and Accounts); Micah Lakumna (Administration); Alhaji Idris Aminu (Election and Party Monitoring); Olayiwola Oyeniyi (Finance and Accounts); and Chima Duruaku (Planning and Monitoring).
Others are: Mr. Leonard Lortsor (Estate, Works and Transport); Ayodele Aluko (Voter Education and Publicity); Samson Lebari (Security); and Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola (Legal Services and Drafting).
Speaking at the send forth for the directors yesterday in Abuja, INEC National Commissioner, Prof. Mohammed Adams, congratulated the retirement for serving the commission well.
“As you retire, you shouldn’t at any time worry yourself about the past but the future.
“Don’t think this is the end of the road. This is actually the beginning of another journey of your lives because you are all professionals in your respective fields,” Adams said.
The INEC national commissioner urged the retirees to engage in meaningful activities that would yield good income for them.
He also advised people in active service not to be scared of retirement but to create a niche for themselves in whatever capacity they found themselves.
“We should be happy with whatever position you find yourself; be grateful to God and create a niche for yourself,” he said.
The INEC Secretary, Mrs. Rose Oriaran-Anthony, hailed the retired directors for their hard work and dedication to service.
Oriaran-Anthony, who was represented by the Director of INEC Secretariat, Mrs. Maryam Musa, congratulated them and whished them well in their future endeavours.
The INEC Director of Training, Dr. Binta Kasim, encouraged the retirees to engage in whatever they derived pleasure from.
“We have a lot of people who have who still made a lot of achievements after retirement including the owner KFC, some others wrote books that fetched them good money,” Kasim said.
Speaking on behalf of the retirees, Mrs. Blessing Obidiegwu said they represented the last batch of INEC pioneer staff.
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The retired director expressed appreciation to the commission for the opportunity given to her and the others to serve the nation.
She advised those in active service to continue to render their best for the commission, saying the gender policy of the commission should be sustained.
“I am very happy that the gender struggle I started is moving on. With the number of women I am seeing here as directors the commission is doing well,” Mrs. Obidewu said.
Another retiree, Mr. Chima Duruaku, praised INEC for the opportunity given to them to make modest contribution to its development and the electoral process.
