Nmcs Polls: Members Elect New Exco Oct. 17, As Committee Chair Says ‘no Validation, No Voting’

News Updates

Nmcs Polls: Members Elect New Exco Oct. 17, As Committee Chair Says ‘no Validation, No Voting’

September 21, 2023

As preparation trails in the air for the elections of new executives of the National Open University of Nigeria Multipurpose Co-operative Society to manage the affairs of its members, the Chairman, Electoral Committee, Prof. Doris Obieje, has said that validation is the main process that qualifies an individual to vote. Obieje said this on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, during an interaction with NOUN News at the university headquarters in Jabi, Abuja.

Represented by a key member of the committee, Dr. Moses Etila Shaibu, she said “validation is a key process to this election as a way to authenticate the number of eligible voters as well as avoid rigging.” Speaking on the preparation of the election, Obieje said“we are fully prepared, the guideline is out, time-table is out, so far, eleven aspirants have collected their forms. The validation process is on to make sure there is no rigging, and of course, those who are not qualified should not participate.

The Directorate of Learning Content and Management System (LCMS) is involved, and already we have started the validation process to know the actual number of participating voters. Even the junior staff that do not have email, we’re working out a process for email to be created for them for that purpose, so that no one will use their physical name to vote, and we are setting a time frame for the election process, and after that time, whoever did not take part will not be validated, and if it is not counted, you will not take part in the electoral processes. With this, we are so sure the issue of rigging will not arise.

In the same vein, according to a memo signed by the electoral committee secretary on behalf of the chairperson, Mr. Isaiah K. Audu, the vacant positions include the offices of the president, vice president, general secretary, treasurer, financial secretary, assistant secretary, and a 3-member supervisory committee.

The memo also stated that all members of the society interested in vying for elective positions in the Management and Supervisory Committee must satisfy the criteria for the 2023 election of the society, in reference to the guidelines in accordance with the provisions of the Lagos State Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Cooperative and extracts from NMCS bye-laws.

It said, He/she must be a permanent member of staff of NOUN (tenured appointment); he/she must be a financial member of the cooperative society to be eligible to vote and be voted for; the candidate’s Expression of Interest Form should be completed by aspirants and endorsed by financial members of the NOUN Multipurpose Cooperative Society, among others.

Meanwhile, NSMCS, on October 17, 2023, will be going to the polls electronically to elect new executives who will pilot the affairs of society for the next two years, as stated in the NMCS bye-laws, which promise to be credible, free, and fair, as issues of court will not arise.

It would be recalled that the NMCS held its last election on October 6, 2022, bringing an end to the tenure of the present exco by October 20, 2023. Links for validation and a timetable for the schedule of activities are hereby given below: https://elections.Nou.Edu.Ng/index.Php/guide