The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, has appealed to the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) for increased and consistent funding to strengthen the commission’s operations ahead of the 2027 elections.

The INEC director of voter education and publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi, in a statement, quoted Mr Amupitan as making the appeal on Tuesday during a courtesy visit to the RMAFC chairman, Mohammed Bello Shehu.

Mr Amupitan described the visit as part of the ongoing efforts to deepen collaboration between the two federal bodies.

He said INEC’s constitutional mandate covers the conduct of presidential, governorship and parliamentary elections, the Federal Capital Territory council polls, continuous voter registration and the registration of political parties.

The INEC chairman noted that the cost of conducting governorship elections alone exceeds the combined cost of presidential and National Assembly elections. Mr Amupitan added that INEC also bears the financial burden of pre-election and post-election matters, including election petitions arising from party primaries.

He explained that INEC maintained offices across all 36 states and the FCT, as well as in all 774 local government areas, with the federal government currently bearing the full cost of these nationwide operations.

Mr Amupitan stressed the need for improved welfare packages for INEC staff, noting that competitive remuneration remained essential for retaining skilled personnel and sustaining institutional efficiency. He observed that the commission had recently lost some experienced staff members to migration, attributing the trend in part to inadequate remuneration.

The INEC chief warned that a widening skill gap could result as more experienced personnel approach retirement. Mr Amupitan said that improved welfare conditions would boost staff members’ morale and strengthen public confidence in the commission’s electoral outcomes.

Mr Amupitan also called for improved infrastructure funding and adequate investment in electoral technology and personnel training, stressing that these investments remain vital to safeguarding the commission’s institutional knowledge. He assured the RMAFC that INEC remained committed to delivering free, fair, transparent and credible elections.

Mr Amupitan noted that the presidential and National Assembly elections were scheduled for January 16, 2027, while the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections were scheduled for February 6, 2027.

The INEC chairman also disclosed that the commission would conduct an off-cycle governorship election in Osun on August 15, adding that INEC’s most recent governorship election in Ekiti and by-elections in other states had received commendation both locally and internationally.

(NAN)