The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, has said INEC staff are among the least-paid workers in Nigeria.
Amupitan made the disclosure on Tuesday in Abuja while presenting the commission’s preparations for the 2027 general elections at a World Press Conference.
He said the commission was taking steps to improve staff welfare, arguing that better pay was necessary to ensure personnel could be held accountable for their responsibilities.
“INEC staff are the least paid in Nigeria. So, we felt if we want to demand and hold our staff responsible, we should give them a living wage,” he said.
According to Amupitan, INEC has been removed from the regular civil service salary structure and now operates a separate electoral and salary structure.
The commission has established the Consolidated Election Management Body Salary Structure (CEMBSS), which took effect from January 1, 2026, as part of efforts to improve remuneration and welfare. The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission also said in July that it was working with INEC on the implementation of an approved remuneration package.
Amupitan said the commission had also identified gaps in the electoral system and was taking measures to address them ahead of the 2027 elections.
On election reruns, he said INEC was making provisions for them as part of its election planning, noting that reruns are provided for under the Constitution.
“The issue of rerun is a constitutional matter. And as we are planning for the election, you have to plan for a rerun,” he said.
