ABSIEC RELEVANT DATA/STATUTORY FUNCTIONS
The Abia State Independent Electoral Commission was established by the 1999
Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria under the 3rd Schedule, Part 2B.
The Commission was inaugurated in March 2001 by the then Executive Governor of
Abia State, His Excellency, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu (MON) on majority affirmation of the
members of the House of Assembly.
The duties and responsibilities of the Commission are embodied in the Abia State
Local Government (Second Amendment) Law No. 9 of 2002.
POLICY IMPLEMENTATIONS OF ABSIEC
Abia State Independent Electoral Commission is service oriented. It is committed to
transparency, objectivity and unrestrained vision for conducting internationally
acceptable Local Government Elections and Bye-elections where necessary, to
ensure sustainable democracy in the third tier of Government.
In line with the United Nations Millenium Development Goals and “ABSEEDS”
Cardinal objectives; ABSIEC has successfully carried out a Referendum, Electoral
Wards delineation and impressively conducted the 2004 and 2007 Local
Government Elections, and bye-elections in the State. These exercises were made
possible by the joint efforts of the Governors of Abia State, ABSIEC Management
team and staff, the recruited Ad-hoc workers that served as electoral personnel as
well as the good people of Abia State.
The International Foundations for Electoral Systems (IFES) with funding from the
United States Agency for Internal Development (USAID) and the State Government
organized training sessions for electoral personnel which changed their self-
perceived ideas of elections in Nigeria for better service delivery.
FISCAL MANAGEMENT AND BUDGETING
The Abia State Independent Electoral Commission’s budget has been in compliance
with the State’s fiscal rules and guide lines. A Cursory look at the total budget
outlay of the Commission for the years 2005 – 2011 shows thus:-
2005 – 79,579,100
2006 – 66,857,090
2007 – 77,092,220
2008 – 134,725,970
2009 – 111,282,050
2010 – 110,539,750
2011 – 138,018,920
There has not been any year that the variance between actual and the budgeted
expenditure was more than 2% of the total budgeted expenditure. The Commission
has never gone into any extra budgetary activity since funds released have always
been used judiciously.
Being a service oriented Commission, the issue of internally generated revenue
budget is not an annual issue, since revenue is generated only on election years.
There are three sources of revenue to the Commission – (a) the Nomination forms
for Chairmanship and (b) Councillorship elections (c) Fees charged during ward
creations.
SERVICE DELIVERY
The Commission ensures continuous development of strategies to improve service
delivery in terms of both quality and reach. ABSIEC makes continuous use of
effective system of data collection, processing and timely dissemination of
information which ensures her policy decisions.
In the Logistics, Planning, Research and Statistics Department of the Commission
are built-up database covering the number of registered voters by polling units,
wards, LGAs etc. Infact, it is a continuous updated database. The total number of
polling units and wards currently in Abia State has been published in the Abia State
of Nigeria official gazette No. 5, volume 12, of 5th June 2003. All elections and
names of winners of such elections are usually announced and published in the
media.
The Administrative machinery of the Commission had maintained an impeccable
record of good service. Presently, the Commission inaugurated a team on Servicom
for the Commission. The administrative relationship between the Commission and
the public has been cordial, following accepted current management principles and
practice.
The Legal Department received and entertained election petitions and replied
through the election tribunals which were put in place. Fair hearing of the cases
were given to every applicant and judgment delivered in accordance with our
judicial system and procedures.
For harmonious co-existence between communities, electoral wards adjustments
have continuously been an exercise and such matters also published in Gazettes.
Interactive sessions have constantly been held by the Commission and stakeholders
to keep them abreast of political situations in the State.
TRANSPARENCY AND COMMUNICATION
In line with the Commission’s vision for transparency, its policies are always
planned and implemented in a transparent and accountable manner (Due Process).
It is on record that some staff of the Commission have been punished at various
times according to the level of the offences committed.
Furthermore, the Commission-in-session doubles as the Tender Board, awards
contracts (where necessary) in the Commission. However, clear definitions of
criteria for short-listing are usually made and respondents particulars received after
the tender documents are disclosed to bidders.
On Communication, the Commission uses the most effective grass root information
strategies and dissemination system for information flow through its local
Government offices where notice boards and other local means of Communication
are in use. Radio, Television and Newspaper announcement and advertorials are
used where necessary. Importantly, especially in this Millennium where the world
has become a global village, the Commission now has a website
([email protected]) where all vital information relating to it are obtained.
September 29, 2023
