The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has appealed to the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) for increased and sustained funding to strengthen the Commission’s operations and improve staff welfare ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Prof. Amupitan made the appeal on Tuesday during a courtesy visit to the Chairman of RMAFC, Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu, in Abuja, describing the engagement as part of efforts to deepen institutional collaboration between both federal agencies in preparation for the country’s next electoral cycle.
Speaking during the meeting, the INEC Chairman underscored the Commission’s extensive constitutional responsibilities, noting that beyond conducting elections for the President, Vice President, National Assembly, Governors, State Houses of Assembly and Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory, INEC is also responsible for continuous voter registration, political party registration and the management of several pre-election and post-election processes.
He explained that the financial demands of conducting elections continue to increase, revealing that governorship elections alone now cost more than the combined expenses of presidential and National Assembly elections. He added that the Commission also bears the cost of election petitions arising from party primaries, as well as other legal and administrative obligations associated with the electoral process.
Prof. Amupitan noted that INEC maintains offices in all 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory and the country’s 774 local government areas, with the Federal Government shouldering the full cost of maintaining the nationwide infrastructure and operations.
The INEC Chairman stressed that improved funding should also extend to staff welfare, warning that inadequate remuneration has contributed to the loss of experienced personnel to migration. According to him, the Commission risks a widening skills gap as more seasoned officers approach retirement, making it imperative to improve salaries and welfare packages to retain skilled professionals and preserve institutional memory.
He argued that enhanced welfare, alongside increased investment in electoral infrastructure, technology and personnel training, would not only improve staff morale but also strengthen the credibility, transparency and efficiency of future elections.
Reaffirming the Commission’s commitment to credible elections, Prof. Amupitan said preparations for the 2027 general elections were already underway. He announced that the Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will take place on February 6, 2027.
He also disclosed that INEC will conduct the Osun State off-cycle governorship election on August 15, 2026, noting that the Commission’s recent conduct of the Ekiti State governorship election and several bye-elections had attracted commendation from both domestic and international observers.
The Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu, commended INEC for sustaining democratic elections in Nigeria since 1999 and acknowledged the enormous operational demands associated with managing elections across the country.
He assured the INEC Chairman that RMAFC would continue to engage and collaborate with the electoral body to support its constitutional mandate, expressing confidence that the Commission would continue to deliver credible elections in 2027.
