The head of Nigeria’s electoral body has made an urgent appeal for increased funding and better staff salaries to prevent a damaging drain of skilled personnel ahead of next year’s general elections.
Professor Joash Amupitan SAN, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), warned that the commission has recently lost experienced workers to migration due to inadequate pay. He cautioned that a widening “skill gap” looms as more senior staff approach retirement.
The plea was made on Tuesday during a meeting in Abuja with Mohammed Shehu, head of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC)—the body responsible for state funding allocations.
“Competitive remuneration remains essential to retaining skilled personnel and sustaining institutional efficiency,” Prof. Amupitan said, adding that improved welfare would boost morale and bolster public confidence in election outcomes.
Huge cost of state elections
Prof Amupitan defended the request for a funding boost by highlighting the sheer scale of INEC’s operations.
- State vs National costs: He pointed out that the financial burden of conducting state governorship elections alone actually exceeds the combined cost of the national Presidential and National Assembly polls.
- Legal and operational overheads: The commission is also forced to foot the heavy bill for pre-election and post-election legal disputes, including petitions stemming from chaotic political party primaries.
- Nationwide footprint: Because the federal government fully funds INEC’s presence, the commission must maintain offices across all 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and all 774 local government areas.
Crucial election dates set
The funding push comes as Nigeria fast approaches a series of major electoral milestones.
The critical dates for the 2027 general elections have already been locked in, with the Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for 16 January 2027, followed by the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections on 6 February 2027.
Before the general elections, INEC will also conduct a highly anticipated off-cycle governorship election in south-western Osun State on 15 August 2026.
RMAFC promises support
Responding to the delegation, RMAFC Chairman Mohammed Shehu praised INEC’s consistency in managing Nigeria’s democratic transitions since the return to civilian rule in 1999.
Acknowledging that the electoral body’s operational demands are “enormous”, Mr. Shehu pledged his commission’s support to ensure INEC is adequately equipped to deliver credible polls in 2027.
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