Ukorebi Esien | August 8, 2026
CALABAR – As part of efforts to build electoral workforce capable of conducting crdible Local Government elections, the Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC) is set to commence a capacity-building programme for its newly recruited personnel to acquaint them with the principles of the civil service and the specialised operations of an Election Management Body (EMB).
Chairman of the commission, Hon. Ekon Boco, disclosed this during an interview on Political Roundtable, explaining that the programme marks the first phase of a broader capacity-building initiative for staff recruited after the 2024 local government elections.
According to him, the recruits, who have since been absorbed into the Cross River State Civil Service following the approval of Governor Bassey Otu, require proper orientation because many of them are entering the civil service for the first time.
"Our first responsibility is to introduce them to the administrative processes of the civil service," Boco said.
"Most of them have never worked in the civil service before, so they need an induction to understand the dos and don'ts of public service."
He noted that beyond the general civil service orientation, the programme would expose participants to the unique responsibilities of working in an Election Management Body, stressing that CROSIEC operates differently from conventional government establishments.
"An Election Management Body is not like the normal civil service where people simply process files. It is a specialised institution established to organise and manage elections. Staff must understand the rudiments of the organisation and what is expected of them," he explained.
The CROSIEC chairman said participants would also receive introductory lessons on electoral administration to help them appreciate the processes before, during and after elections, while more specialised training on election management and the legal framework governing elections would be conducted subsequently.
"This is only an introduction. The detailed election management training will come later. By next year, we will begin more comprehensive training on electoral processes and the laws that guide the commission's operations," he said.
The induction programme will bring together Electoral Officers, Assistant Electoral Officers, Stock Officers and other support staff serving across the state's local government areas.
Boco disclosed that facilitators for the exercise would include experts from the University of Calabar and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who will guide participants on public service administration and the foundational principles of election management.
He described the exercise as an important investment in the commission's workforce, noting that competent personnel are essential to the delivery of credible local government elections.
The CROSIEC chairman added that the commission has already commenced preparations for the next local government elections, with the induction programme forming part of activities aimed at strengthening the institution ahead of the release of the election timetable.
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