The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured its staff of improved welfare and remuneration ahead of the 2027 general elections, with a new salary structure scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), gave the assurance on Monday, October 19, 2026, in Enugu while addressing more than 600 staff members from the commission’s offices across the South-East on preparations for the elections. He urged them to remain neutral and professional in the discharge of their duties.
Amupitan, who was on a working visit to the region to interact with traditional rulers and electoral stakeholders, warned staff against showing interest in political parties.
“You should not pick interest in any political party: be neutral and firm,” he said.
The INEC chairman said he had received reports that some staff members were showing interest in political parties, describing such conduct as wrong.
He stressed that the commission expected its staff to remain neutral and professional in their words and actions, warning that it would not tolerate unprofessional or unethical electoral conduct.
“The commission will not take unprofessional or unethical electoral conduct from any staff,” he said.
Amupitan added that INEC had introduced a reward and sanction mechanism at the local government, state and national levels.
On staff welfare, the chairman said the commission was working to improve the welfare of its staff across all cadres and levels.
He explained that INEC had worked to move its staff away from the regular civil service salary structure to a special salary structure, which he said would take effect on January 1, 2027.
According to him, the new salary structure was intended to benefit staff across all cadres and levels and reduce the risk of them being influenced before, during and after the elections.
“We want the new salary structure so that you will not be easily induced by anybody before, during and after the elections,” he said.
Amupitan added that the commission was working with relevant government agencies and commissions to secure the funding needed to implement the new salary structure.
He also urged staff to ensure that public trust in the commission’s programmes and activities was maintained.
“As an unbiased umpire, we need to up the confidence and trust the people repose on us by being disciplined and diligent to our duties at all times,” he said.
On preparations for the 2027 general elections, Amupitan said INEC was making arrangements to ensure adequate logistics and had already provided its Enugu office with 10 new pickup vans.
“More logistics is coming as we ensure adequate preparation for the General Elections,” he said.
The chairman disclosed that the commission had its non-sensitive election materials ready and was awarding contracts for other materials required for the polls, including sensitive materials.
He further announced that extensive training and retraining for staff would commence soon.
According to him, the exercise was necessary because of new guidelines and regulations introduced under the amended Electoral Act.
