INEC compensates victims of election.

The agency boss also promises to ensure that greater security is provided for workers in next polls.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, has assured election officials of the commission’s commitment to providing them maximum protection during future elections.

Jega said this at the formal presentation of cheques for insurance claims to family representatives of victims of the 2011 post-election violence that erupted in parts of the country.

Each cheque, worth N655, 384, was presented to 42 families under the INEC Hazard Welfare Scheme.

“No amount of monetary compensation can truly compensate for the loss of lives of our beloved ones or even for the injuries that some of our beloved ones may have incurred,” he said.

“So this is just a token and we in INEC are committed to continue to find all ways and means of ensuring greater protection and security for all those who have accepted to do election duty. And together with the NYSC directorate headquarters, we will continue to put heads together with a view to finding better ways of providing security and compensating victims in future.”

The INEC boss described the post-election violence as an unfortunate development in the history of the country, saying that it should not have happened.

He said that the challenge before the country was to ensure that the perpetrators were prosecuted “so that they can answer for their role in this unfortunate circumstance and also for us to ensure that we take measures that can prevent this kind of thing from happening in future.” 

He said the victims did not die in vain, “but have contributed their own quota to the development of their country, and that is what every citizen should be prepared to do”.

Representatives of the victims expressed appreciation for the compensation but demanded for more from INEC and the federal government.

Paul Isidahowen, brother to one of the deceased, Rita Isidadowen, said no amount of money could make his sister to live again. He appealed to INEC to recruit at least one member of the families of the deceased persons as part of the compensation package.

Similarly, Hauwa Mustapha, who lost her husband in a bombing incident at the INEC office in Suleja, urged the federal government to give them the same compensation packages as their colleagues in Bauchi State.