House of Representatives has mandated its Committees on Electoral Matters and Interior to investigate the root causes of destruction of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) offices across the country.
The decision followed a motion by a member from Plateau state, Mr Dachung Bagos on the need to Prevent Further Attacks on INEC offices Nationwide.
Mr Dachung Bagos, observed that in the past 24 months, over nineteen INEC offices have been gutted by fire with a ratio of one INEC office per month.
He said the house noted the increased attacks on INEC offices across the country with the most affected states including Akwa Ibom, Abia, Anambra, Imo, Borno, Ebonyi, Jigawa, Kano, Ondo, Plateau, Rivers and the Federal Capital Territory with about 11 of the offices burnt down by hoodlums.
The committees are also to investigate fire outbreaks and ascertain the level of compliance to fire safety regulations of INEC offices nationwide.
He expressed concern that if nothing is done to forestall future occurrences, there will not be adequate INEC offices to coordinate the 2023 and off-season elections in Nigeria.
Adopting the motion, the House urged the Federal Government to provide adequate security in all offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) across the country.
The committees were given four weeks to report back for further legislative action.
From Salihu TSIBIRI
