The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reaffirmed its commitment to improving the welfare of its staff and strengthening its operational capacity ahead of the 2027 general elections.

INEC chairman, Joash Amupitan, gave the assurance on Friday in Lokoja while declaring open the North-Central Zonal Operational Readiness Assessment and Interactive Staff Engagement.

Mr Amupitan disclosed that the commission had introduced a new salary structure, enhanced salaries, hazard and field allowances, increased the overhead allocation for state offices by 150 per cent and approved improved severance benefits for retiring personnel.

He added that INEC was working on an owner-occupier housing scheme and procuring additional vehicles, including 500 pickup trucks, to strengthen its logistics operations nationwide.

He urged electoral personnel to remain professional, politically neutral and committed to the rule of law, stressing that their conduct would be crucial to building public confidence in the electoral process.

The chairman also sought the support of traditional rulers in promoting issue-based campaigns, tackling misinformation and discouraging voter apathy ahead of the elections.

He urged the royal fathers to encourage political parties and their supporters to shun calumny, aggression and inflammatory statements, while discouraging their subjects from being used as agents of electoral violence.

Mr Amupitan identified misinformation, disinformation and voter apathy as major challenges requiring collective efforts to address, assuring that INEC would collaborate with security agencies to ensure peaceful, free and credible elections.

He explained that the North-Central zonal assessment was designed to evaluate the preparedness of electoral personnel and the state of electoral infrastructure, particularly equipment to be deployed for the 2027 elections.

According to him, the commission would also organise a security conference to examine identified vulnerable areas and develop strategies to protect electoral personnel, infrastructure, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and voters.

He described the decision to make Kogi the host of the concluding phase of the zonal assessment as deliberate, noting the state’s strategic importance and tourism potential.

The chairman appreciated the Kogi government for hosting the exercise, which brought together representatives from Niger, Benue, Kwara and Plateau states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Earlier, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kogi, Shehu Wahab, commended traditional rulers for their contributions to peace, stability and successful electoral activities across the state’s 21 local government Areas.

Mr Wahab described the traditional institution as a critical partner in promoting peaceful coexistence and civic participation.

He disclosed that one of the traditional rulers had provided safe custody for critical electoral materials following the vandalisation of INEC’s office in one of the local government areas.

He urged the royal fathers to sustain their support through community mobilisation and sensitisation, particularly on peaceful electoral participation and the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

In his response, the vice-president of the Kogi State Council of Chiefs and Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, HRM Ahmed Anaje, pledged the council’s support for Amupitan and INEC.

Mr Anaje, who spoke on behalf of the Attah Igala, HRM Opaluwa Aguchakpa, and other traditional rulers, described Amupitan’s appointment as a source of pride to Kogi.

He assured the commission of the traditional institution’s readiness to collaborate in promoting peaceful, credible and inclusive elections through community mobilisation, discouraging electoral violence and encouraging responsible political participation. 

(NAN)