Nigeria: INEC Prolongs PVC Collection As FG Plans To Order Closure Of Schools Ahead Of Elections

Monday, 2 February 2015

Nigeria: INEC Prolongs PVC Collection As FG Plans To Order Closure Of Schools Ahead Of Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has finally decided to extend the deadline for collection of Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) to Sunday, Feb. 8, following the repeated appeals from Nigerians.

A statement released by the INEC’s Chief Press Secretary, Kayode Idowu revealed that the new date is intended to give registered voters yet to collect their PVCs the opportunity to do so in readiness for the general elections.

He urged duly registered persons not to delay in going to collect their cards before the expiration of the new deadline.

“The commission reaffirms its determination to make the 2015 elections free, fair, credible and peaceful; and urges all stakeholders, including voters, to spare no effort in working towards the same objective,” he added.

Meanwhile, there were strong indications on Sunday that the Federal Government might order the closure of all public and private schools in the country with effect from next week, to pave way for the conduct of the general elections expected to begin February 14.

The Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau, has already summoned all the 36 states’ Commissioners of Education, including that of FCT, to his office in Abuja today to a meeting to take decisions on when it would be appropriate to shut the schools.

Shekarau gave hint of the possible closure of schools, while responding to questions from journalists at a public forum organised to give an overview of the Nigerian basic education sector from 2011 to 2015.

“There are rumours making the rounds that government has closed all schools. As far as the Federal Ministry of Education and the Federal Government are concerned, nobody has made any statement in respect of closure of schools,” he said.

The Presidential election which comes up on February 14 is already making most of the electorate and their family members apprehensive with a good number of them planning to relocate to less volatile places before the polls.