Reported by Simon Daniel Yusuph l Journalist at Weng Global
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has said the commission’s employees are the least-paid workers in Nigeria, as the electoral body moves to introduce a new salary structure and improve staff welfare ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Amupitan made the disclosure on Monday, October 5, 2026, in Abuja while speaking at a strategic workshop organised for editors by the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) in collaboration with INEC.
The workshop, themed “Strengthening Democracy Through Partnership Among Editors, Civil Society and Electoral Institutions,” brought together electoral officials, media executives and other stakeholders to discuss preparations for the 2027 elections and the role of the media in protecting electoral integrity.
According to Amupitan, he discovered the disparity in staff remuneration after assuming office and said the commission had taken steps to move its workers away from the conventional civil service salary structure.
The chairman said INEC had introduced the Consolidated Election Management Body Salary Structure (EMBSS) as part of efforts to improve operational efficiency and staff welfare.
“When I took over, I discovered that INEC staff are the least paid in Nigeria.”
Amupitan said the new structure was intended to address the remuneration challenge within the commission, adding that INEC was also working on the financial backing required for implementation.
Amupitan Links Staff Welfare to Electoral Efficiency
The INEC chairman presented staff welfare as an important part of the commission’s broader effort to strengthen the administration of elections.
INEC relies on permanent employees as well as temporary and ad hoc personnel to organise voter registration, election logistics, accreditation, result management and other activities required during the electoral cycle.
The scale of the commission’s responsibilities means that the effectiveness of its workforce has direct consequences for the delivery of elections across Nigeria.
Amupitan said the commission had introduced the new salary structure specifically to improve operational efficiency.
He also disclosed that INEC had increased the operational overheads of its state offices by 150 per cent, with the increase taking effect from July 1, 2026.
The chairman said the commission was working on the necessary cash backing for staff welfare measures, with implementation intended to take effect from January 1, 2026.
The dates and implementation arrangements will be important because the effectiveness of any new remuneration structure ultimately depends on whether approved changes are properly funded and reflected in workers’ pay.
What the New Salary Structure Means
The introduction of the EMBSS represents an attempt by INEC to create a compensation framework tailored to the responsibilities of an electoral management body rather than relying entirely on the broader federal civil service structure.
Amupitan said the objective was to take INEC out of the core civil service salary structure.
The move comes at a significant time for the commission, which is preparing for the 2027 general elections while simultaneously managing voter registration, election technology, logistics, personnel preparation and public communication.
For INEC, better remuneration could also form part of a wider effort to strengthen professionalism and institutional capacity.
However, salary improvements alone cannot guarantee electoral credibility.
The commission will still need to maintain strict standards on neutrality, training, accountability, logistics, technology, security and compliance with electoral laws.
INEC Faces Major Operational Demands Ahead of 2027
Amupitan’s comments on staff welfare came as he outlined several other preparations being undertaken by INEC ahead of the 2027 elections.
The commission has said Nigeria’s register of voters has grown to more than 103 million following the completion of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise and the Automated Biometric Identification System cleanup.
The three-phase registration exercise produced more than 10.7 million new registrations, although the figures remain subject to the commission’s verification processes.
INEC has also announced that nationwide collection of Permanent Voter Cards is scheduled to begin on October 9, 2026.
The development puts additional pressure on the commission’s workforce, which will be required to manage voter-facing activities across the country as the election timetable advances.
INEC has described preparations as entering an increasingly critical stage, with eight of 14 major statutory activities on its election timetable already completed.
57,000 New BVAS Devices Acquired
Technology is another major component of the commission’s preparations.
Amupitan disclosed that INEC had acquired 57,000 new Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices ahead of the 2027 elections.
The commission is also upgrading existing electoral technology rather than relying exclusively on entirely new systems shortly before the polls.
The improved systems include enhancements to the BVAS, the electronic management of results and the INEC Result Viewing Portal, known as IReV.
INEC has also introduced an enhanced eEC8A system designed to digitise and authenticate polling-unit results before their transmission to the result viewing platform.
The commission says the objective is to reduce opportunities for manual manipulation and strengthen the chain of verification between polling units and publicly available election results.
Amupitan also said INEC was working with international technology partners to deploy artificial intelligence-driven tools capable of identifying unusual activity in database traffic and strengthening the cybersecurity of electoral systems. (Phenomenal)
Staff Neutrality Remains a Critical Issue
While discussing welfare, Amupitan also emphasised the commission’s position on professionalism and neutrality.
He said INEC had zero tolerance for partisanship, administrative negligence and compromised ethics among its personnel.
The commission has indicated that electoral officers and temporary staff will be required to take an oath of neutrality under the Electoral Act 2026.
The emphasis on neutrality is significant because public confidence in elections depends not only on technology but also on how electoral officials behave at polling units, collation centres and other stages of the electoral process.
An adequately paid workforce may improve morale, but INEC officials will still be expected to operate within the law and maintain impartiality regardless of political pressure.
The commission will therefore face the dual task of improving working conditions while strengthening mechanisms for discipline and accountability.
Vote Buying and Campaign Finance Also Under Focus
The INEC chairman used the Abuja engagement to outline measures aimed at addressing vote buying and illegal campaign expenditure.
According to reports from the workshop, INEC is working with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit to monitor campaign spending.
The commission plans to establish a joint financial monitoring mechanism to identify suspicious and potentially unlawful campaign expenditure.
Amupitan warned political parties and candidates against using financial inducements to influence voters.
He argued that elections should be determined by voters’ choices rather than the financial capacity of candidates.
The issue is particularly important ahead of 2027 because campaign spending, vote buying and the use of money to influence voters have remained longstanding concerns in Nigeria’s electoral environment.
INEC Warns Against Political Violence
The chairman also warned political actors against violence, intimidation and inflammatory rhetoric ahead of the elections.
He said no political ambition was worth the life of a Nigerian and warned candidates and parties against deploying armed supporters or encouraging violence during campaigns.
INEC said its early-warning mechanism under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security would continue to monitor political violence, thuggery and inflammatory political rhetoric.
The commission’s position places electoral security alongside technology, personnel and voter registration as key components of its preparations.
Political parties and candidates will therefore remain central to whether the security environment surrounding the 2027 elections remains peaceful.
Disinformation Emerges as Another Electoral Challenge
Amupitan also highlighted the growing threat posed by misinformation, deepfakes and manipulated digital content.
He urged editors and journalists to verify information before publication, warning that false reports could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
The chairman referred to the circulation of manipulated images and false reports during previous elections and said inaccurate information could create unnecessary panic or discourage voters from participating.
He also warned against premature publication of unofficial election results.
The concern is particularly relevant as Nigerians increasingly rely on social media for election information.
For INEC, communication speed and transparency will therefore matter alongside traditional media verification.
When official information is delayed or difficult to access, rumours and unverified claims can spread rapidly.
Media and Civil Society Asked to Play Stronger Role
The Abuja workshop also focused on the relationship between INEC, the media and civil society organisations.
Amupitan said electoral credibility could not be achieved by INEC alone and called for stronger cooperation among the different stakeholders.
The chairman has proposed sustained engagement between INEC and the Nigerian Guild of Editors to discuss operational developments, address emerging concerns and improve the flow of verified information during the election cycle.
The commission has also indicated that editors should have better access to information that can help them verify field incidents, logistical developments and security reports.
That approach could help reduce the information gaps that often create uncertainty during elections.
However, stronger access will also require media organisations to maintain their own professional standards and independently verify claims rather than simply reproduce information provided by political or institutional actors.
Public Trust Remains Central to 2027 Elections
Beyond salaries, technology and logistics, Amupitan has repeatedly identified public trust as a central measure of electoral credibility.
The commission can acquire new equipment and improve staff welfare, but voters must ultimately believe that the electoral process is fair, transparent and capable of reflecting their choices.
That trust depends on several factors, including the conduct of electoral officials, the accuracy of the voter register, the reliability of election technology, transparent result management and effective responses to electoral disputes.
It also depends on how political parties behave and how the media reports the process.
The chairman’s comments therefore place the question of staff remuneration within a much larger institutional challenge facing INEC.
Why INEC Staff Welfare Matters
The issue of remuneration matters because election administration is a nationwide operation requiring thousands of officials to perform sensitive responsibilities.
Poor working conditions can affect morale and institutional effectiveness, while stronger welfare arrangements may help an organisation attract and retain skilled personnel.
For an electoral body, the stakes are particularly high.
INEC officials handle sensitive electoral materials, administer procedures that affect citizens’ voting rights and operate in environments where political tensions can be significant.
The commission therefore needs not only adequate staffing but also professional training, clear rules, security protection, proper equipment and effective disciplinary systems.
Improved pay can support those goals, but it cannot replace institutional safeguards.
What Happens Next
The immediate focus for INEC will be implementation.
The commission will need to secure the financial backing required for the EMBSS and ensure that any approved changes are translated into practical improvements for its employees.
It will also continue its preparations for the 2027 elections, including voter card collection, technology upgrades, logistics planning and personnel readiness.
Nationwide PVC collection is scheduled to begin on October 9, while the commission is continuing work on its voter register and electoral technology.
The acquisition and deployment of new BVAS devices will also require adequate training and operational testing before election day.
At the same time, INEC will need to maintain its engagement with the media, civil society organisations, political parties and security agencies.
The effectiveness of these measures will ultimately be judged by how well the commission performs when Nigerians go to the polls.
What Readers Should Know
Amupitan’s statement that INEC staff are the least-paid workers in Nigeria is part of a broader effort by the electoral commission to reform staff welfare and strengthen its operational capacity ahead of the 2027 elections.
INEC says it has introduced the Consolidated Election Management Body Salary Structure to move its workforce away from the conventional core civil service salary structure.
The commission has also announced a 150 per cent increase in state-office operational overheads and is working on the funding arrangements required for staff welfare measures.
At the same time, INEC is preparing for the 2027 elections through voter registration, PVC collection, technology upgrades, logistics improvements, financial monitoring and stronger collaboration with the media and civil society.
The wider test will be whether these reforms translate into a better-resourced, professional and independent electoral workforce capable of delivering elections that Nigerians can trust.
Weng Global — Stories beyond borders
Sources
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE)
Punch
Voice of Nigeria
The Authority
Independent Newspaper Nigeria
NewsVerge
