By Atiku Sarki, Abuja
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has urged staff of the commission to work selflessly and uphold the highest standards of integrity, stressing that the commission cannot afford to fail Nigerians in the conduct of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Prof. Amupitan made the call on Friday during an official working visit and interactive session with the commission’s management and staff at the INEC headquarters in Minna, Niger State.
He warned staff against any form of compromise, noting that Nigerians and the international community, including the African Union and international Election Observation Missions, are closely monitoring preparations for the 2027 polls.
“You are our ambassadors, and you cannot afford to fail. The whole world, not just Nigerians, is looking up to INEC,” he said.
The INEC Chairman disclosed that he recently attended an African Union meeting in Egypt involving Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) across Africa, where many participants expressed interest in observing Nigeria’s elections.
“The whole world is watching us. We must conduct the election in a highly professional manner,” he added.
Prof. Amupitan assured staff that the commission was strengthening logistics, infrastructure and transport facilities across state offices to ensure a smooth electoral process.
“We do not want to repeat the mistakes of the past. My goal is to ensure that we continue to improve our performance,” he said.
Reflecting on his first nine months in office, the INEC Chairman reaffirmed his commitment to restoring public confidence in the commission by delivering transparent, free, fair and credible elections.
He stressed that rebuilding public trust in INEC would depend largely on the dedication, professionalism and integrity of staff, particularly those working at the grassroots.
Prof. Amupitan announced that the commission would reward outstanding performance while imposing strict sanctions on officers found guilty of misconduct.
“We must learn from the lessons of previous elections. There should be no compromise whatsoever. We have decided to introduce rewards for hard work, but any misconduct will attract serious consequences.
“Work hard, work selflessly, shun corruption, and let us give Nigerians the credible elections they truly deserve,” he said.
On staff welfare, the INEC Chairman disclosed that the commission had begun a comprehensive review of employee welfare packages nationwide to improve morale and enhance productivity.
He noted that staff welfare was one of the critical issues he identified upon assuming office.
“We play a pivotal role in strengthening Nigeria’s democracy. A stable political system depends largely on the independence and effectiveness of the electoral body.
“When I assumed office, I discovered that the welfare package for INEC staff was among the lowest in the country. We have decided to address this challenge, and I assure you that the results will soon become evident,” he said.
As part of his visit, Prof. Amupitan also inspected the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise at a registration centre located within the INEC headquarters in Minna.
