The Board of Commissioners at the National Elections Commission (NEC) says frantic efforts are being made to ensure that the Commission pays all of its service providers in the just ended elections held across the country.
“We have called you all here to beg you; to plead with you because we understand that it is not only becoming embarrassing for you but also for us as we are not able to settle our obligations with you immediately,” the NEC Chairperson Davidetta Browne Lansanah told several vendors as well as media business managers and publishers.
In separate interactive dialogues with service providers yesterday in the James Fromayan Conference Hall, Madam Lansanah flanked by her commissioners appeared passionate when they explained how the Commission is yet to settle almost all those who played critical roles in ensuring that the elections were held.
Madam Lansanah explained how it would have been difficult to have held the elections without the service providers adding, “Now that you have done your part, our only appeal to you is that we will do our best to pay you.”
She stated that it is the government that provides funding for the working of the Commission but was quick to point out that though it is no excuse that that is so, because the NEC is not an income generating institution thereby assuring that they will be paid every arrears owed those who helped the Commission by providing services.
However, the NEC boss was not definite as to when the Commission will settle its obligations with the service providers but acknowledged that it owes close to US$ 1m for vehicles rental; over US$ 300, 000 for printing cost; over US$ 25, 000 for public relations; and a little over US$ 800, 000 for poll watchers.
Madam Lansanah said that it has come to their attention that the service providers are getting enraged as the news in the vineyard says poll watchers will take to the street as soon but in a remorseful plea she believed the government may delay, yet emphasizing that everyone will be paid.
She stated further that it is heart-breaking that the NEC is not in the position to assist its service providers with their own obligations having rendered services which without, there would have been more challenges and nobody would have even known adding, “We are doing our best knowing that the challenges are huge.”