Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has ordered its staff to suspend further annual leave as it ramps up preparations for the 2027 general elections, while announcing enhanced salaries, allowances and operational funding.
INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan issued the directive on Friday during an interactive meeting with staff from the North-Central zone in Lokoja, Kogi State.
The commission said the measure was aimed at ensuring personnel remained available for the administrative and operational demands of the elections.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has directed its personnel to suspend further annual leave as preparations intensify for the 2027 General Election, while announcing a package of workforce, welfare and logistical measures aimed at strengthening its nationwide operations,” a statement from the commission said.
Amupitan warned staff against negligence, absenteeism, financial impropriety and partisanship. He directed Resident Electoral Commissioners and Administrative Secretaries to enforce strict attendance and accountability.
He announced the introduction of a Consolidated Election Management Body Salary Structure (CEMBSS), which took effect from January 1, 2026, after the commission moved away from the conventional civil service salary structure. Processes for cash-backing the arrangement were ongoing, he said.
The commission also approved enhanced salary, hazard and field allowance packages for personnel, alongside a 150 per cent increase in monthly overhead allocations to state offices, effective July 1, 2026.
Operational pick-up vehicles have been distributed to state and local government offices nationwide, while 20 Sports Utility Vehicles were procured for Resident Electoral Commissioners. Administrative Secretaries will also receive new vehicles.
Amupitan said INEC was configuring 57,000 newly procured Bimodal Voter Accreditation System devices and auditing its electronic result management systems to ensure transparent transmission of results.
The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and state assembly polls will hold on February 6. The commission has completed nine of the 14 major milestones in its statutory timetable.
