Amunipitan says INEC staff are least-paid in Nigeria, adopts seperate salary structure

In a bid to enhance the welfare of its staff ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared that its employees are among the lowest-paid workers in Nigeria, according to INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan. Speaking at a World Press Conference in Abuja, Amupitan revealed that the commission has taken several "radical steps" to prioritize the welfare of its personnel, including removing INEC from the civil service payment structure and establishing a distinct salary framework.

The decision to improve staff welfare was motivated by the need to hold its personnel to a higher standard of responsibility.

Amupitan emphasized that INEC staff are not traditional civil servants but have been previously integrated into the civil service payment structure. By removing the commission from this structure, it is now operating its own electoral and salary system. He further explained that these changes are part of several identified gaps aimed at addressing challenges within the electoral system.

In addition to the salary changes, INEC is also making provisions for rerun elections as a part of its preparations for the 2027 general elections. The chairman noted that reruns are a constitutional requirement and must be incorporated into the commission's election planning. According to the law, the commission has the authority to determine the procedures and protocols for conducting rerun elections.

The decision to review staff welfare comes as INEC gears up for a massive electoral exercise in 2027. Earlier this year, the commission informed the National Assembly that it requires a budget of N873.78 billion to conduct the 2027 general elections, along with N171 billion for its operations in 2026. This proposed election budget is significantly higher than the N313.4 billion allocated for the 2023 elections.