EU-SDGN Launch
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The overall objective of the EU-SDGN is to contribute to the reinforcement of democracy in Nigeria through building strong, effective and legitimate democratic institutions. This project will also aim to promote inclusion and participation of marginalized demographics in electoral processes.
The programme is composed of five components, namely:
• Component 1: Support to the Independent National Electoral Commission implemented by the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) for an amount of 13 Million euro with an additional contribution of 5% of the total amount from ECES core fund;
• Component 2: Support to the National Assembly implemented by the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) and Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA) for an amount of 3 million euro;
• Component 3: Support to Political Parties implemented by the Political Party Leadership and Policy Development Centre of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) for an amount of 2.7 million euro;
• Component 4: Support to Media implemented by the Institute for Media and Society and the International Press Centre for an amount of 2.6 million euro;
• Component 5: Support to Civil Society Organisations implemented by the BBC Media Action, CLEEN Foundation, Westminster Foundation for Democracy and the Albino Foundation for an amount of 3 million euro.
Goodwill messages were delivered by The European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Ketil Karlsen, The Minister of Budget and Planning Senator Udoma Udo Udoma represented by Mr Bassey Akpanyung, The Honourable INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu and the Vice President of the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES), Mr Jose Manuel Pinto-Teixeira. Ambassador Karlsen said that the electoral process, which would be funded over a period of five years, was aimed at promoting transparent, inclusive and credible elections. Mr Jose Pinto-Teixeira, Vice-President of the European Centre for Electoral Support, said “Our work revolves around building on the already notable resources and tools developed to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process in Nigeria. “This programme is being launched, ahead of the 2019 elections knowing that for many stakeholders, including the electoral management bodies in Nigeria, elections are regular and continuous events given the many by-elections that have been taking place so far.’’
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said the inauguration of the programme was another demonstration of the EU’s commitment to the promotion of the rule of law, good governance and democracy in Nigeria.
Yakubu said that for the 2019 elections, INEC would be conducting elections in 1,558 constituencies nationwide made up of one presidential constituency, 29 governorship constituencies, 109 senatorial districts, 360 federal constituencies and 991 state constituencies. The launch had over 200 high profile guests in attendance cutting across the EU Embassies, the Diplomatic community, National Assembly, Polical Parties, Forum Of State Idependent Electoral Commissions (FOSIECON), Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Other Donor agencies, Civil Society Organisations (CSO’s), People With Disabilities, Women, Youth, Media including The SSA to the President on PWD, 10 Ambassadors, Representatives from the higher and lower chambers of National Assembly, INEC National Commissioners and Senior Advisors, DG National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Civil society actors among many others. The programme will be implemented from 2017 to 2022, accompanying the 2016-2019 electoral cycle, and is anchored in the priorities of the Nigerian government and the recommendations of the European Union Election Observation Mission on the 2015 General Elections.
For more information about the programme, please visit:
http://democracy-support.eu/nigeria/