Ita-Giwa wants Friday work-free day until election week

• NOA in Edo preaches patriotism during polls

FORMER Special Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo on National Assembly Matters and Convener, Action Women Empowerment Initiative (AWEI), Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, has urged the Federal Government to make every Friday before the election week work-free day to enable workers collect their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs).

  Ita-Giwa said she was concerned that many Nigerians might not be able to exercise their voting rights to choose their preferred leaders because some employers of labour do not give them more opportunities to get their PVCs.

   In a statement made available to newsmen yesterday, she said the only way Nigerians can actively participate in the electioneering process is by ensuring that they vote on March 28 and April 11.

  She also urged the private sectors to set aside off-days for all their workers to go and collect theirs too.

   Besides, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) yesterday took its campaigns to towns and villages in Edo State preaching patriotism and peace during the coming elections as part of its voters’ education exercise.

  State Director of the agency, Mrs. Magdalene Umunnah, who led the team to some local councils in Edo South, Edo Central and Edo North Senatorial Districts, urged members of the communities to shun violence during the polls.

  At Idogho community in Ikpoba-Okha Local Council, Umunnah told the Enogie of the community, His Royal Highness Osarobo Edorodion, that the agency recognises the important role the traditional institutions play in the country, saying that was the reason the agency has involved the institution to help talk to their subjects on what is expected of them during the elections.

   She also urged the people to explore the shift in the election to get their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs).