Despite the fact that the the Independent National Electoral Commission will be conducting governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states, in November and December, respectively, the Central Bank of Nigeria has frozen all its bank accounts.
Why?
Due to the non-compliance of INEC with Federal Government’s directive that all ministries, agencies and departments must operate Treasury Single Account.
It is believed that the freezing of INEC’s accounts was carried out last week and the commission has been unable to discharge its duties, due to a lack of cash supply.
While the September salary of INEC staffs have remained unpaid due to the accounts freezing, the leadership of the commission have reportedly met with representatives of the Federal Government and CBN, to find a solution to the frozen accounts.
Vanguard’s source was quoted to have said: “It has not been easy at the commission because all activities here are almost grounded following the decision of the federal government to block all our accounts. They said that INEC has refused to comply with the directive on Treasury Single Account.
As we talk now, we have not been able to pay workers salaries for September because we cannot have any access to the commission’s accounts. Our numerous contractors have been coming everyday for payments that have been due but there is no cash at hand to settle them.
“But the good news is that the commission’s leadership has finally met with them and they have agreed to sort out the whole matter. Hopefully the commission will come back to life very soon and try to settle the issue of workers salary which is very important”.
