Jega's exit will be subject to Civil Service law - FG

By The Citizen

The Federal Government has said that the exit of Prof. Attahiru Jega as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission will be determined by the existing laws guiding the Federal Civil Service. The Supervising Minister of Information, Edem Duke, who made the clarification on Friday, however, said the INEC boss will not be sacked as being insinuated in some quarters. The All Progressives Congress caucus in the Senate had on Thursday raised the alarm that there was a plot by the Presidency and the Peoples Democratic Party to compel Jega to proceed on terminal leave next week. While denying the report, Duke anchored his position on the recent assurance given by  President Goodluck Jonathan during the last presidential media chat. Duke maintained that it is natural for anybody who reaches the terminal date in service to ease out, adding that everything is now 'within the terrain of the President and he has spoken. 'The issue of the INEC Chairman, I want to allign myself with Mr. President on that. 'This is not to say that if it is the time for the INEC chairman to ease out of office, the natural civil service law would not be allowed to take its course.' Duke spoke with newsmen in Abuja on Friday. He called on the media to focus on issues that could promote unity and peaceful co-existence.