The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has directed its employees to stop taking further annual leave as the commission steps up preparations for the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, announced the directive on Friday during a meeting with commission officials and staff from the North-Central zone in Lokoja, Kogi State.
The commission said the decision was necessary to ensure adequate staff availability as election-related administrative and operational activities gather momentum.
Amupitan urged personnel to demonstrate commitment and discipline, warning against absenteeism, negligence, financial misconduct and political bias.
He also instructed Resident Electoral Commissioners and Administrative Secretaries to strengthen attendance monitoring and enforce accountability across their respective offices.
As part of efforts to improve staff welfare and operational efficiency, the chairman announced a new salary structure, increased field allowances and additional funding for state offices.
He disclosed that the Consolidated Election Management Body Salary Structure took effect on January 1, 2026, following the commission’s decision to move away from the conventional civil service salary arrangement. He added that arrangements were ongoing to secure funding for its implementation.
The commission has also approved improved salary, hazard and field allowances for employees, alongside a 150 per cent increase in monthly overhead allocations to state offices from July 1, 2026.
On logistics, Amupitan revealed that operational pickup vehicles had been distributed to state and local government offices nationwide, while 20 Sport Utility Vehicles had been purchased for Resident Electoral Commissioners. Administrative Secretaries are also expected to receive new vehicles.
The chairman further highlighted technological preparations, including the configuration of 57,000 newly acquired Bimodal Voter Accreditation System devices to strengthen voter identification and accreditation during the elections.
He said INEC was also reviewing its electronic result management platforms, including the eEC8A verification system, to ensure transparent transmission of polling unit results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal.
Amupitan added that the preliminary voters’ register had been made available for public inspection, with the certified register scheduled for publication on December 15.
On security, he announced plans for stronger coordination between the commission and security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, with arrangements covering national, state, local government and registration area levels.
He also cautioned against the spread of misinformation, fabricated media reports and artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes, warning that such activities could damage public confidence in the electoral process.
INEC disclosed that it had completed nine of the 14 major activities outlined in its statutory timetable for the 2027 elections.
The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will take place on February 6, 2027.
The North-Central meeting brought together officials from Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger and Plateau states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory.
According to figures presented by Amupitan, the zone has 15,448,869 registered voters.
The directive follows a similar engagement with INEC personnel in the South-South zone in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where the chairman reaffirmed that the commission would maintain the scheduled election dates and work to prevent voters from being disenfranchised by operational challenges.
