Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, has asked the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission to support increased and sustained funding for the electoral body ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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Amupitan made the request on Tuesday during a courtesy visit to the RMAFC Chairman, Dr Mohammed Bello Shehu, in Abuja, as part of efforts to strengthen cooperation between the two federal institutions.
He said adequate funding was necessary for INEC to discharge its extensive constitutional responsibilities, maintain its nationwide offices, deploy electoral technology, train personnel and retain experienced employees.
According to the INEC chairman, the commission is constitutionally responsible for conducting elections into the offices of President and Vice President, the National Assembly, governors, state Houses of Assembly and the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory.
He added that INEC also conducts continuous voter registration, registers and regulates political parties, and handles other activities connected with Nigeria’s electoral process.
Amupitan said the cost of conducting elections had risen significantly, noting that the expenditure involved in organising a single governorship election now exceeds the combined cost of presidential and National Assembly elections.
He explained that the commission’s financial responsibilities were not limited to election-day operations, as it also bears expenses arising from pre-election and post-election litigation.
These include court cases connected with political party primaries, candidate nominations and election petitions filed after polls.
The INEC chairman said the commission operates offices in all 36 states, the FCT and Nigeria’s 774 local government areas, with the Federal Government responsible for funding and maintaining the nationwide structure.
He therefore urged RMAFC to recognise the scale of INEC’s responsibilities and support a funding arrangement capable of guaranteeing the commission’s continuous and effective operation.
Amupitan also called for improved salaries and welfare packages for INEC employees, warning that poor remuneration had contributed to the loss of skilled and experienced personnel.
He said some employees had left the commission for opportunities abroad, while many experienced officers were approaching retirement.
According to him, failure to improve welfare conditions could create a significant institutional knowledge and skills gap within the commission.
“With more experienced personnel nearing retirement, we risk a widening skill gap if welfare conditions are not improved,” he warned.
Amupitan maintained that competitive remuneration was essential to retaining qualified personnel, improving staff morale and sustaining efficiency within the electoral body.
He added that better welfare conditions could also strengthen public confidence in the commission and the credibility of election outcomes.
The INEC chairman further requested increased funding for electoral infrastructure, technology and personnel training.
He said continuous investment in these areas was necessary to improve election administration and preserve institutional knowledge within the commission.
Amupitan assured RMAFC that INEC remained committed to conducting free, fair, transparent and credible elections.
He disclosed that the presidential and National Assembly elections had been scheduled for January 16, 2027, while the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections would take place on February 6, 2027.
The chairman also announced that the commission would conduct an off-cycle governorship election in Osun State on August 15, 2026.
He said the governorship election recently conducted in Ekiti State and various by-elections organised by the commission had received commendations from local and international observers.
Responding, the RMAFC Chairman, Dr Mohammed Bello Shehu, commended INEC for consistently conducting elections in Nigeria since the return to democratic government in 1999.
Shehu acknowledged the scale of the electoral commission’s responsibilities across the federal, state and local government levels, particularly given its presence in every part of the country.
He pledged RMAFC’s support for INEC’s efforts to conduct credible elections in 2027 and assured the delegation that the commission remained available for further engagement.
“The doors of RMAFC remain open for continued engagement and collaboration in support of INEC’s electoral mandate,” Shehu said.
Amupitan was accompanied on the visit by INEC national commissioners, the Secretary to the Commission, technical aides and directors.
Shehu received the delegation alongside the RMAFC Vice Chairman, commissioners and senior directors.
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