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US Commits N1.8bn to Nigerian Election 2007
by, Ezechinyelu
Abuja, Nigeria
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The U.S. says it is committing 15 million dollars (N1.8bn) towards the success of the 2007 presidential election in Nigeria.
Mr Stephen Herbaly, the U.S. Embassy's democracy officer, who disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja yesterday, said the facility to be spread across three years, would be jointly managed by USAID and the Embassy.
According to him, the managers would work with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to promote credible and generally acceptable polls.
Herbaly said special attention would be paid to public enlightenment and the education of the voters to ensure an enlightened electorate.
He said the legiti! macy of an election was determined by the literacy level of the electorate and â € œwhat we want to do is to enhance this literacy level.â € ?
The official said efforts would be specifically tailored towards professionalism, a reduction in electoral violence and increased transparency.
He said part of the funds would go into strengthening INEC's capacity to manage and administer the elections.
Other areas of intervention, Herbaly said, include the training of core trainers for ad-hoc staff as well as basic elections administration training for INEC staff.
He said key NGOs and CSOs had been selected from across Nigeria to carry out voter education and election observations, while a national coalition against violence had been formed.
He verbally expr! essed his country's desire and support for credible polls, say! ing &nbs p;the U.S. was committed to a strong democracy that would enhance developmental growth in Nigeria.
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