{
  "id": 18519057,
  "title": "2027: INEC suspends staff leave, threatens sanctions over negligence, partisanship",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/2027-inec-suspends-staff-leave-threatens-sanctions-over-negligence",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-06T14:10:35.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Post Nigeria",
    "slug": "daily-post-nigeria",
    "url": "https://dailypost.ng/2026/11/06/2027-inec-suspends-staff-leave-threatens-sanctions-over-negligence-partisanship/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has ordered its staff to halt annual leave before the 2027 general elections, warning of penalties for negligence, absenteeism, or political bias. INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan made the announcement during a readiness assessment meeting with commission staff in Lokoja, Kogi State. He emphasized that partisanship, negligence, financial misconduct, and absenteeism would be met with \"decisive sanctions.\" Amupitan urged officials to show greater discipline and commitment, directing Resident Electoral Commissioners and Administrative Secretaries to enforce strict attendance and accountability measures. With over 103 million registered voters across 176,846 polling units, INEC is set to conduct presidential, National Assembly elections on January 16, 2027, and governorship and state assembly elections on February 6, 2027. In response to the warning, INEC has announced a range of welfare and logistical improvements, including a new salary structure, increased allowances, and enhanced funding for state offices, effective from January 1, 2026. The chairman also disclosed that hazard and field allowances had been raised, and monthly overhead allocations to state offices increased by 150% from July 1, 2026. INEC has procured 20 new Sports Utility Vehicles for Resident Electoral Commissioners and is configuring 57,000 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System devices to enhance voter verification. Additionally, INEC is auditing its electronic result management systems to ensure transparent transmission of election results. Voter registration efforts have seen the activation of printable Permanent Voter Cards and a digital PVC Location Portal, with the preliminary voters' register available for public review, scheduled to be finalized on December 15, 2026. Amupitan addressed concerns over photographs appearing on the preliminary register, stating that the data was still being verified before the final release.",
  "summary": "The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has ordered its personnel to suspend further annual leave ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that staff who engage in negligence, absenteeism or political partisanship will face sanctions. INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, issued the directive on Friday during a readiness assessment meeting with commission staff in Lokoja, […]…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}