The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has decried the lingering strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), describing it as a threat to its preparations for the conduct of the 2019 general elections.

Speaking at a one-day workshop on Gender Sensitive Reporting of Elections on Thursday in Abuja, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Barrister Festus Okoye, said over 70% of the ad hoc staff requirement for the elections, was drawn from students of federal tertiary institutions.

“The lingering strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, will no doubt have serious impact on the preparations for the conduct of the 2019 elections.

“It is therefore important that students of federal tertiary institutions should and must be in school at least a month before the February 16 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

“They are one critical resource and their absence will have adverse effects on the ad hoc staff requirement of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC,” Okoye stated.