Amupitan: INEC personnel among Nigeria’s lowest-paid workers

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, has described INEC personnel as the least paid workers in Nigeria, saying improved remuneration is necessary to strengthen accountability.

Amupitan spoke on Tuesday in Abuja while outlining preparations for the 2027 general elections at a World Press Conference, according to PUNCH.

“INEC staff are the least paid in Nigeria. So, we felt if we want to demand and hold our staff responsible, we should give them a living wage,” Amupitan said.

He said the commission had taken “some very radical steps” to improve workers’ welfare, including removing INEC from the civil service payment structure.

“We are not called civil servants. What we have learned under the civil service payment structure, which we have just removed INEC from, is to have their own separate structure, electoral structure, and separate salary structure from the civil service,” he said.

Amupitan added that INEC had identified gaps in Nigeria’s electoral system and was addressing them ahead of 2027.