INEC Chairman Claims Staff Are Nigeria’s Lowest Paid

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, stated that the commission’s staff are the lowest paid in Nigeria. He made this remark during a press conference and a national stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.

Amupitan emphasized the importance of providing a living wage for INEC staff to improve accountability and performance. He mentioned that INEC has been removed from the civil service payment structure to establish its own salary system. This change aims to address various gaps in staff welfare.

During the event, Amupitan also discussed preparations for the upcoming 2027 elections. He revealed that INEC has created a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) division to help combat fake news and improve the verification of election results. This division will use automated tools as part of a broader AI governance framework.

Additionally, he noted that INEC is enhancing its election technology, including upgrades to the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices. The commission plans to start distributing Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) at local government centers on October 9, 2026.