Muhammed Abubakar, Reporting
THE Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has urged staff members of the commission to uphold the highest standards of integrity and professionalism, warning that the commission cannot afford to disappoint Nigerians in the 2027 general elections.
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.
Addressing the staff, the INEC Chairman cautioned against any form of compromise, stressing that both Nigerians and the international community were closely monitoring preparations for the forthcoming elections.
“You are our ambassadors and you cannot afford to fail,” Amupitan said. “The whole world, not just Nigerians, is looking up to INEC. I just returned from an African Union meeting in Egypt involving Electoral Management Bodies across Africa, and everyone expressed their desire to come and monitor Nigeria’s elections. So, the whole world is watching us. We must conduct the election in a highly professional manner.”
He noted that the presidential and National Assembly elections would hold on 16 January 2027, while the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for 6 February 2027.
The INEC Chairman assured staff that the commission was strengthening its logistics, infrastructure and transport capacity nationwide to ensure smoother electoral operations.
“We do not want to repeat the mistakes of the past. My goal is to ensure that we improve on our performance continuously,” he said.
Reflecting on his nine months in office, Amupitan reaffirmed his commitment to restoring public confidence in the electoral body by delivering transparent, free, fair and credible elections.
He emphasised that rebuilding trust in the commission would depend largely on the dedication, professionalism and integrity of personnel working across the country.
Amupitan announced that the commission would introduce a system of rewards for outstanding performance while enforcing strict disciplinary measures against misconduct.
“We must learn from the lessons of past elections. There should be no compromise whatsoever. We have decided to introduce rewards for hard work, but if there is any misconduct, there will be serious consequences,” he said.
“Work hard, work selflessly, shun corruption, and let us give the Nigerian people what they truly desire.”
On staff welfare, the INEC Chairman disclosed that the commission had begun a comprehensive review of employees’ welfare packages nationwide to improve morale and enhance productivity.
According to him, staff welfare was one of the first issues he identified after assuming office.
“We play a pivotal role in ensuring that Nigeria moves into the comity of developed nations. This can only happen if our political system is stable, and that stability depends largely on our independence and performance as an electoral body,” he said.
“When I assumed office, I discovered that the welfare package for INEC staff was among the lowest in the country. To boost your morale, the commission decided to take this issue head-on. When the results begin to manifest, you will appreciate our commitment.”
As part of his visit, Amupitan also monitored the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise at a registration centre located within the commission’s headquarters in Minna.
