AAC presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has called for a minimum wage of ₦500,000 for INEC staff, arguing that properly compensating electoral workers is essential to protecting the credibility of Nigeria’s elections. Sowore made the demand following comments by INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan that workers at the electoral commission were the least paid in Nigeria. […]
AAC presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has called for a minimum wage of ₦500,000 for INEC staff, arguing that properly compensating electoral workers is essential to protecting the credibility of Nigeria’s elections.
Sowore made the demand following comments by INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan that workers at the electoral commission were the least paid in Nigeria.
Amupitan raised the issue during INEC’s preparations for the 2027 general elections, saying the commission had begun taking steps to improve the welfare of its personnel.
According to the INEC chairman, better remuneration was necessary if the commission was going to demand accountability from its workforce.
Sowore reacted by warning that poorly compensated electoral workers could undermine the conditions necessary for credible elections.
“No decent wages, no credible elections,” he declared.
The AAC candidate said INEC personnel carry a major responsibility in administering elections and should therefore receive what he described as a living wage.
He specifically proposed a minimum wage of ₦500,000 for INEC staff, saying decent working conditions should form part of efforts to strengthen electoral integrity.
“INEC staff cannot be expected to safeguard the integrity of our elections while being poorly compensated,” Sowore said.
He also said electoral workers should be free to organise and demand better conditions through lawful means if their concerns were not addressed.
Sowore went further to say he would support INEC workers if they embarked on lawful industrial action over their working conditions.
“If these workers continue to be treated with contempt, I will join them in boycotting the 2027 elections,” he said.
Meanwhile, Amupitan said INEC had already begun restructuring its remuneration system, explaining that the commission was no longer operating under the conventional civil service payment structure.
He said INEC now had a separate electoral and salary structure and had taken what he described as “radical steps” to prioritise the welfare of its personnel.
The issue of staff welfare comes as INEC continues preparations for the 2027 general elections, including reforms aimed at strengthening the electoral process and addressing identified gaps within the system.