Workshop on Implementation of INEC/NURTW MoU on Logistics Delivery for the 2019 General Elections

Arising from a 2015 post-election review, and as a part of efforts to secure efficient logistics delivery for the 2019 General Elections, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) Nigeria in partnership with the Independent Electoral National Commission (INEC) convened a two-day roundtable discussion between the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the National Union Of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), the Road Transport Employers Association Of Nigeria (RTEAN) and The National Road Transport Owners (NARTO) at the Electoral Institute, Abuja on the 28th and 29th of November 2018.

The purpose of the roundtable, which held 23 days to the 2019 general elections in Nigeria, was to review the INEC/NURTW MoU of January 2015 which empowered NURTW as the sole provider of vehicles nationwide for Election Day activities, expand this partnership by establishing modalities for similar collaborations with NARTO and RTEAN and establish a robust standard template for payment and delivery related to disbursement of funds, accountability and more.

After a successful roundtable discussion on 12 December 2018, the INEC and the road transport unions through their National Presidents and Secretaries signed the MoU on Logistics Delivery for the 2019 General Elections.

INEC used the opportunity of the two-day session to provide voter education and interact with the members of the union on their roles and conduct in election logistics and the expectations from the electoral body.

During his remarks, Dorathy U. Inyang, Assistant Director, Voter Education & Publicity INEC said “the commission recognizes the huge logistics involved before, during and after elections and commit to partner with the Union for efficient and effective movement of men and materials from its headquarters to states, Local Government Areas / FCT Area councils, Registration Area Centres, polling units, collation centres and other services as agreed”.

The NURTW remains a strategic partner in ensuring smooth mobility of relevant logistics throughout the period of elections. It was important to consolidate the relationship between the electoral body and the transport union. 80 members of the NURTW with two representatives from each of the 36 states in Nigeria and their national leaders were present.