Ukorebi Esien | August 10, 2026
CALABAR — Chairman of the Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC), Dr. Ekong Boco, has charged newly recruited electoral officers to remain non-partisan and conduct themselves in accordance with civil service rules as they assume responsibilities in the management of local government elections.
Boco gave the charge in Calabar during a capacity-building workshop organised by CROSIEC for newly recruited Electoral Officers, Assistant Electoral Officers and Store Officers on administrative procedures and contemporary issues in the management of local government elections in Cross River State.
He warned the officers that their conduct at the local government level would be critical to the credibility of the commission, stressing that while he could operate from the commission's headquarters in Calabar, the newly recruited personnel would serve as CROSIEC's representatives in the various local government areas.
“I'm only a chairman based in Calabar. I cannot be in other local government areas at the same time. It is you that are in those local government areas. Therefore, your conduct will also be questionable if you do not meet the public expectation,” Boco said.
He urged the participants to pay close attention to the training and apply the knowledge acquired in their respective places of assignment.
The CROSIEC chairman said the workshop was designed to induct the new personnel into civil service administration while introducing them to the principles and practices of managing credible elections.
“This is the time that we have come on board. Therefore, I want to properly induct you into civil service administration. And as an election management body, we also want to introduce you into the system of managing credible elections,” he said.
Boco disclosed that the recruitment of the new personnel followed a request by the commission to address its manpower shortage occasioned by retirements and deaths.
According to him, Governor Bassey Edet Otu approved the deployment of 82 staff to the commission and also approved their training to enable them meet public expectations.
The chairman added that the workshop marked the first major capacity-building exercise for the new personnel under the current commission.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Cross River State Civil Service Commission, Sir Maurice Effiwat, told the officers that their first identity was that of civil servants and, therefore, they must remain impartial in the discharge of their electoral duties.
Effiwat described the Public Service Rules as the “Bible of the service”, urging the new personnel to study and abide by the provisions guiding public servants.
“You must remain impartial in the conduct of your duties as electoral officers. And that also means that you will also be guided and judged by the public service rules,” he said.
He noted that the one-day training could not adequately equip the officers with all the knowledge required for their assignments, describing it as a starting point for further training.
Effiwat urged the participants to take the exercise seriously, stressing that they would eventually be required to pass the knowledge acquired to other electoral personnel they would work with in the field.
“When you are posted to your various locations, you will meet senior officers and other electoral officers. At that point, it will be your duty to train them. And you cannot give what you don't have,” he said.
He commended CROSIEC for organising the training, describing continuous capacity building as essential to effective public service.
The Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Anthony Owan-Enoh, who declared the training open commended CROSIEC for organising the training for the newly employed personnel and declared the workshop open.
Represented by Mr. Okpa Akpet, Owan-Enoh said the decision to begin the officers' service with training was important, urging them to take the exercise seriously.
He said the training would expose the officers to the “nitty-gritty” of what was expected of them at their various places of assignment.
Akpet also commended Governor Otu for approving the employment of the personnel, saying the administration's People First mantra was centred on the welfare and development of the people.
Chairman of the Cross River State Local Government Service Commission, Barrister Eyo Nsa, urged the electoral officers to protect the integrity of elections and ensure that the will of the people prevails.
In his goodwill message, Nsa said the growing awareness among citizens meant that electoral officials must discharge their responsibilities with fairness and credibility.
“It is very important that as the people who are going to carry out the process of electing people into office, that you discharge your duties with all fairness and with all credibility, and you allow the will of the people to prevail at all times,” he said.
Nsa warned that electoral officials must not allow themselves to become participants in the political contest they are expected to administer. “The umpire must never become a participant,” he stressed.
He said decisions made by elected governments could affect generations, making it imperative for electoral officers to protect the democratic process by ensuring that citizens' choices are respected.
The Cross River State Head of Service, Mr. Orok Bassey Okon, Esq representated by Dr. Ignatius Edu, identified neutrality, professionalism and conduct as three principles the newly recruited officers must observe in their official duties.
Edu warned them against allowing personal interests or political preferences to influence their work.
“You are not a politician. You are a civil servant. You are not to participate in elections, and also you are not expected to be one-sided,” he said.
He urged the officers to treat all candidates and political parties fairly, irrespective of their personal preferences.
The workshop brought together newly recruited Electoral Officers, Assistant Electoral Officers and Store Officers, as well as senior officials from CROSIEC, the State Civil Service Commission, Local Government Service Commission and the state government.
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