2015: NSPMC, CBN lobby for INEC contract

A few days after President Goodluck Jonathan directed that printing of all security documents in the country be handled by the Nigeria Security Printing and Minting Company, NSPMC Plc, a joint management team of the firm and the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, yesterday, requested for collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, towards the printing and transportation of sensitive materials for next year’s poll.
Speaking on the occasion, chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, acknowledged that the CBN had been partnering with INEC to conduct credible elections across the country since 2011.
He said: “Since our preparations for the 2011 elections began, the CBN has provided very valuable service in terms of securing INEC’s sensitive electoral materials and assisting us in delivering them in a very secure manner.
“We have used the CBN’s vaults across the states for the conveyance of these sensitive materials either to  our offices in various states or their own offices where we go and collect them sometimes. CBN renders this valuable service not only to INEC, but to our nation.”
He further stated that as strategic partners, INEC and CBN needed to keep exploring ways and means of working together to  benefit our country.
Sounding cautious, the INEC chairman, however, said: “But as we do that, we need to put the larger interest of the country at heart. We must, therefore, discuss things honestly and sincerely in order to ensure that whatever decisions we take are in the best interest of our country.
“I know that the governor has assumed office with a clear responsibility towards adding value not just to the CBN,  but for the entire country.   We in INEC are willing to discuss the business proposal which you have come with.
“We are willing to consider ways and means in which we can work together.   Whatever we do, we have to take all things into consideration.”
Governor of CBN, Godwin Emefiele, accompanied by the Managing Director of Nigerian Security, Printing and Minting Company, NSPMC, Joseph Ugbo, said the purpose of the visit was two-fold -  to introduce the new management of NSPMC, and seek ways in which NSPMC could collaborate with INEC in printing documents for the 2015 general elections.
Emefiele said: “We want to ensure that the printing and transportation of security documents and electoral materials from the printing press to the various voting centres are discussed and to also ensure that there is a harmonious way of handling our collaboration.
“The move was in line with President Goodluck Jonathan’s directive to him last week that the NSPMC should be given the first choice of refusal for the printing of all security documents and electoral materials before they could be printed outside the country.