By Palang Paul
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, has called for increased funding and improved staff welfare ahead of the 2027 elections.
Amupitan made the call on Tuesday during a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu, in Abuja.
He said adequate and consistent funding was critical to strengthening INEC’s nationwide operations, electoral technology and personnel capacity as preparations intensify for the general elections.
The INEC Chairman explained that the Commission’s constitutional responsibilities include conducting presidential, National Assembly, governorship, state assembly and Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections.
He added that INEC also oversees continuous voter registration and the registration of political parties, placing significant financial and operational demands on the electoral body.
According to Amupitan, the cost of conducting governorship elections alone exceeds the combined cost of presidential and National Assembly polls.
He said the Commission also bears substantial costs arising from pre-election and post-election litigation, including petitions linked to political party primaries.
Amupitan noted that INEC maintains offices across the 36 states and the FCT, as well as all 774 local government areas, with the Federal Government funding the nationwide structure.
He raised concerns over the loss of experienced personnel to migration and warned that inadequate remuneration, coupled with the approaching retirement of senior staff, could widen the Commission’s skills gap.
The INEC Chairman said competitive salaries and improved welfare packages were necessary to retain skilled personnel, boost staff morale and strengthen institutional efficiency.
He further called for increased investment in infrastructure, electoral technology and personnel training to preserve institutional knowledge and enhance public confidence in election outcomes.
Amupitan assured RMAFC that INEC remained committed to delivering free, fair, transparent and credible elections.
He said the Presidential and National Assembly elections would hold on January 16, 2027, while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.
The INEC Chairman also disclosed that the Commission would conduct the Osun State off-cycle governorship election on August 15, 2026.
He said INEC’s recent governorship election in Ekiti State and bye-elections in other states received commendations locally and internationally.
Responding, RMAFC Chairman Mohammed Bello Shehu commended INEC for its consistency in conducting elections since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999.
Shehu pledged RMAFC’s support towards strengthening the electoral body’s capacity to deliver credible polls in 2027.
He acknowledged the scale of INEC’s responsibilities across federal, state and local government levels, describing its nationwide operational demands as enormous.
The RMAFC Chairman assured Amupitan and his delegation of continued engagement and collaboration in support of INEC’s electoral mandate.
Amupitan was accompanied by INEC National Commissioners, the Secretary to the Commission, technical aides and directors, while Shehu received the delegation alongside RMAFC’s Vice Chairman, Commissioners and senior directors.
Post Comment