The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan, has announced plans to introduce cash rewards and foreign travel incentives for staff who distinguish themselves during elections, as part of efforts to boost staff morale ahead of the August 15 Osun State governorship election.
Prof. Amupitan made the announcement on Tuesday during a working visit to the INEC headquarters in Osogbo, where he met with electoral officers and other staff of the Commission.
The visit came hours after the INEC delegation paid a courtesy call on the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi.
Addressing staff, the INEC Chairman said the Commission was under pressure to deliver a credible poll in Osun, describing the forthcoming election as critical to the Commission’s credibility ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“I welcome you. We are just coming from the palace of the Ooni of Ife and the expectation on INEC is very high. The tension is equally high. We have to do everything possible within our powers, within our abilities to bring down this tension,” he said.
“You are members, you are staff, you know you have something to offer. As the chairman and the Commissioners, our role is to be able to tap your brains and ensure that you are able to solve every problem that confronts you.”
“We have started a scheme now in the Commission whereby there is a reward for hard work. And the best EO, the best local government that is able to ensure that elections start at 8.30am in all the polling units, we have a prize. Apart from what the commission has decided on the monetary compensation, letters of recommendation and opportunity for foreign travels. Is that not what we are doing? These are some of the things we are trying to do to motivate staff.”
“But again, the consequences for not starting the election are dire.”
Prof. Amupitan said it was incumbent on INEC to conduct the Osun Governorship election on August 15, 2026, with the support of ad-hoc staff to be recruited for the exercise.
He recalled that in the nine months since he assumed office, INEC had conducted major elections in Anambra, FCT and Ekiti, and about 11 bye-elections across the country without any of them being disputed.
“It was just two weeks after assumption of office, we had Anambra election. Two months after that, we had the FCT election. Another two months, we had a Ekiti election. Here we are again, talking about the off-cycle Osun state governorship election. In all these elections we have had in the past nine months, we have seen the finger and the hand of God,” he said.
Security, funding and peaceful elections
The Chairman raised concerns over recent attacks on INEC facilities, including an incident last week where BVAS machines were hijacked and staff assaulted.
“We had a security situation last week where our BVAS were hijacked. And, our staffs were assaulted. And, we are very concerned about that. And, we are taking measures to secure our facilities, our materials. Because, the lives of our staff is very vital. And, more importantly, the security of the voters,” he stated.
He said the Commission was engaging the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, ICCES, and the National Peace Committee to ensure a peaceful election, noting that security ratings in Osun had dropped from “very high” in June to “medium.”
Prof. Amupitan also spoke on the need for sustainable funding for the Commission, saying the cost of conducting a state election now exceeds that of a federal election.
“We need to find a sustainable way of financing our operations. When the course of conducting a state election is even more than the state governorship election, it’s more than the course of conducting a federal election, as fast as any presidential election would be,” he said.
He listed peace as the second key index of a successful election. “So, the second indices of a successful election is that it must be peaceful,” he added.
On misinformation, he urged staff to be proactive. “In light of the incident of disinformation and misinformation that comes during such an election, that is a trigger for us, let us learn how to manage such situations,” he said.
“Our responsibility is to ensure that the election atmosphere is free, is credible, and is conclusive like the professors said. To protect our staff, our officials, and the people that are coming to work.”
The National Commissioner in charge of the South West, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, described the INEC Chairman as a “great welfarist” and assured staff of improved welfare.
“I want to say that we are lucky at this very critical time to have our honourable chairman at the head of the Commission. For your information, our honourable chairman is a great welfarist person. He is a pro-staff, great welfarist person. He will be talking to you tonight. I don’t want to be the one talking,” Prof. Ajayi said.
He said the Commission was prepared for the 2026 election and had a dedicated workforce.
“As the record says, we are prepared for the 2026 election. We have a group of dedicated staff. They are committed and loyal to the commission. The position is that we conducted a free and fair election that was acceptable to everybody. The record says free, fair and inclusive. I want to add another element, It will be conclusive,” he said.
“On behalf of these dedicated staff, I welcome you to our first day. I assure you, you will not be disappointed.”
The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun State, Barrister Oluwatoyin Babalola, assured the Chairman that staff in the state were ready for the task.
“Osun state must set the standard, every decision we make, every detail we configure, every material we account for, and every polling unit we manage to shape the public trust in Nigeria’s democratic process,” she said.
“I am honoured to state that your presence here today is a powerful motivation for the staff, encouraging them to perform their duties diligently and strive for a successful election. I assure you, the staff of INEC in Osun states are prepared and conscious of the responsibilities that come with the electoral process.”
She urged staff to approach their duties with integrity. “On this note, I urge all staff to listen attentively to the directives and counsel of the honourable chairman and national commissioners. Let us approach our duties with renewed vigour, patriotism and unyielding integrity. We pledge that, by the special grace of God, we will conduct a free, fair, credible, inclusive and transparent election for Nigeria,” Babalola said.
The INEC Chairman is expected to hold further engagements with security agencies and stakeholders in Osun ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
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