"Falsehood and delusion are allowed in no case whatsoever. But, as in the exercise of all virtues, there is an economy of truth." - Edmund Burke (1729-1797), Irish-born Whig politician and man of letters.

Newspaper headlines must be hard-hitting and blunt to earn their space on the news stands. I have been a journalist much of my life, and I know this to be a standard of the noble practice.

But, there is an unsavoury consequential reality of this industry's tendency that I have come to realise that more often than not, those knockout headlines - deliberately or inadvertently - misrepresent the import of the statements or comments they signpost. I know this for a fact now because I am for the moment on the receiving end of the spectrum, representing the interest of someone whom these headlines (and sometimes the body) tend to misreport.

I do recognise, too, that even when these misreports have some elements of deliberation in them, commerce (i.e. the need to sell the paper, or air time for broadcast media) more than malice, might be the driving force. But then, this industry's 'license' invariably leaves the affected person needlessly worsted and disfigured.

The chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, is one such person. For anyone who knows him, he is a journalist's delight because he comes as sharp as spikes. In his dealings, including the times he encounters the media, he lays issues bare as unreservedly as transparency can get. That is his life, and a standard behavioural ethic, to which he is sworn.

Considering the integrity capital he brought to his present job as the nation's chief electoral umpire, and which he is resolved to preserve and build upon, he can't afford to do otherwise. That is why he often says his pledge to Nigerians has never been that he is perfect (he could make mistakes like every mortal), but that he will always be honest and transparent in all that he does - including with his errors. That mindset explains why he always places the affairs of the commission in the public space, withholding nothing back. Unfortunately, he oftentimes gets misrepresented.

Last Tuesday, the INEC chairman was cited in some print and broadcast media as seeking N8bn more for the commission. He was being reported from a session of 'Global Guest on VON' - a quarterly programme of the Voice of Nigeria held the day before - during which he faced a panel of journalists from select media organisations put together by the host medium.

Notice that he had a choice to turn down the request for his participation on that programme, but he did not. Eventually, the gist of the reports filed by some of the media that participated at the VON forum was that the INEC chairman, like Oliver Twist (though they didn't need to say so in many words), wanted N8bn more for the commission. And sight was not lost on the fact that the presidency had just released some N87.7bn appropriated for the commission by the National Assembly.

ThisDay, in particular, could barely avoid muted remonstration against the Jega-led INEC, rather than objectively relay what transpired at the VON forum. And so, the paper reported: "Just when Nigerians were certain that any financial issues regarding the needs of the commission had been put to rest with the release of N87.7bn to it about two weeks ago, Jega yesterday announced that it still requires another N8bn.

The amount, he explained to Nigerians who were only waiting for the organisation to deliver on its promised smooth conduct of the 2011 general elections, was necessitated by an unexpected cut in its budgetary allocation by that same amount." AIT also reported the INEC chairman as seeking additional funds for the commission - impliedly over and beyond what it had previously requested and secured. But thankfully, there were some other media more objective in their reports: "INEC funding still short by N8bn - Jega" (Daily Trust) and "NEC under pressure over N8b shortfall - Jega" (LEADERSHIP).

ThisDay uncharitably imputed greed to the commission, and insinuated negligence of its core mandate. That I dare say, is downright wrong and mischievous. For the record, Prof. Jega isn't seeking "another N8bn" for INEC. What he did was to draw attention to an inexplicable short-funding by N8bn of the 2010 appropriation for the commission, which had been in place even before he came to the saddle as helmsman.

In other words, this short-funding isn't about any fresh budgetary request; it is more about a default in the cash-backing for what had been duly appropriated for the commission even before the present leadership came on board.

And the short-funding becomes significant because the supplementary request that was appropriated for the commission last month by the National Assembly along with the N74bn budget for fresh voter registration was made on the presumption that the original 2010 appropriation would be fully funded.

Perhaps a painstaking explanation here might help illuminate the whole economics of the electoral budget. The present commission, it should be recalled, came into office only at the beginning of July. But before its advent, the old commission had submitted a budget, which was eventually appropriated short of some vital requests for the conduct of the 2011 elections (note: not the conduct of a fresh voter registration, which it had no mind to do).

However, the unanimous demand by Nigerians for a brand new voters register, coupled with the new Electoral Act 2010, which stipulates that the general elections be held in January next year - as against April under the old legal order - necessitated the Jega-led commission's resolve to conduct a fresh voter registration on an unavoidably massive scale.

This comes invariably with huge cost, i.e. the N74bn bill. The logic of this huge bill has been belaboured before now and needs not be repeated here. But, it bears mentioning again that the INEC chairman has repeatedly assured that it will be a long term investment for this country - not only in the credible voters register which the commission has pledged to come up with - but also in a sustained process of continuous voter registration that would no longer necessitate a massive ad hoc exercise after now.

He has also staked his hard-earned and widely acknowledged integrity to pledge that he will account to Nigerians for every kobo appropriated. But I think the question every Nigerian of good conscience should ask is why a chunk of N8bn was shaved off an already appropriated 2010 budget which Jega's leadership of INEC only inherited?

Jega's INEC is resolutely committed to discharging its anchor role, but every other stakeholder - including voters - would need to dutifully play their part. Sadly, though, integrity and noble character are rare traits in public office in this country, such that some compatriots would not recognise them in someone with a good dose even if he is posted on their turf. It is sad. Quite sad.

Idowu is chief press secretary to the chairman of INEC