Jega: I didn’t ask for INEC, but I will do my best

Vice Chancellor of the Bayero University, Kano (BUK) Professor Attahiru Jega, whose name has been forwarded to the National Assembly for confirmation as Chairman of the In Professor Attahiru Jega,dependent National Electoral Commission [INEC] following his nomination by President Goodluck Jonathan last week, says he did not ask for the country’s top electoral job.

Speaking at a magazine launch and public lecture organized by the BUK chapter of the National Union of Kebbi State Students in Kano at the weekend,   Professor Jega however called for prayers for him to succeed. He said, “God knows that I did not ask for this job. But I will give my best and our best will always be positive. And I want to urge Nigerians to continue to pray for us.”

Jega, who was among the illustrious sons from Kebbi State honoured at the occasion, also said if he eventually becomes chairman of INEC, he would do his best to serve the nation to the best of his ability, given the confidence Nigerians have reposed in him since the announcement of his nomination.

He said he hopes to succeed in the assignment given the tremendous goodwill displayed by Nigerians following his endorsement by the National Council of State, and he expressed confidence that Nigerians would give him all the necessary support to succeed.

Danmasanin Yauri Alhaji Abdullahi Lamba, who is the  Special Adviser to the Kebbi State governor on UBE, said that based on the recommendations of a committee raised by the Kebbi State government, chaired by Professor Jega, on the resuscitation of education in the state, all public servants including the governor would soon take all their wards to public schools.

He said the Dakingari administration would give every support to public schools to further encourage educational development in the state. More money, according to him, would be pumped into the sector in line with the committee’s recommendations.

Guest speaker at the occasion Dr Hussaini Mango of Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto said no private school  should measure up to the quality of free public schools.

In a paper entitled “Free Education by States: Benefits and Strategies”, Mango said all stakeholders must be made to put their children in the public schools.

Funding, he said, was the heart of free education while the stumbling block was economic, social and political misbehaviour, saying emphasis on free education should be placed on the intrinsic value of education before extrinsic value.