INEC Honours 16 Retirees

The Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) in Rivers has honoured its 16 retirees for meritorious service and charged those still in service to be humble and dedicated to their duties

Speaking at the ceremony on in Port Harcourt, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Aniedi Ikoiwak, said that it was good to reward good service. 

Ikoiwak said that government system should adopt such reward in order to minimize corruption, adding that a measure should be put in place to select dedicated, honest, humble and effective workers. 

“If this is done, at the end of the service, the corrupt workers will not be rewarded, while the disciplined ones will be reward with a souvenir. 

“And anytime they look at the souvenir, they will be happy and fulfilled knowing that their long service was acknowledged with thanks,” he said. 

Ikoiwak said that the gesture would also remind those in service that there was a passage in everybody’s life, and urged those still in service to leave good footprint in the sands of time. 

Also speaking, the INEC Head of Department, General Administration and Supply (GAS), Pastor Linus Kpokpo, urged the retirees to keep faith in God as they might face some challenges. 

Kpokpo said that the challenges might be health or social but the most important thing was for them to take proper care of themselves. 

“You have fought a good fight, you have finished the race and you deserve the reward,” he said. 

Kpokpo also urged those in service to put in their best for them to be rewarded at the end of their service. 

Speaking with the newmens, the retirees commended INEC for the honour and described it as first of its kind. 

Mr Abiye Kenisiapua, 60, who was an Assistant Chief Driver in the Technical Service of the commission when he retired, last year, said he was happy to be among the pioneers being honoured. 

Kenisiapua said that it was the first in history, as he had not experienced such ceremony during his 21 years of service, adding that the future ones would be better. 

Mr Bornu Anthony, 62, who worked in the Information, Communication and Technology Unit, said that the occasion was very interesting and urged the commission to sustain it. 

Mr Anele Ekwe, 85, retired from the Security Department, thanked God that he was alive to witness the honour and thanked the commission for their thoughtfulness.