INEC suspends staff leave as 2027 election preparations step up
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended annual leave for its staff and warned that negligence, partisanship and absenteeism will be punished, as it prepares for the 2027 general election.
INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, announced the measures in Lokoja, Kogi State, on Friday, 6 November 2026, at a meeting with staff from the North-Central zone, PRNigeria reported. He said the commission would not tolerate conduct that could undermine the credibility of the election.
Key dates
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 15 December 2026 | Certified Register of Voters released |
| 16 January 2027 | Presidential and National Assembly elections |
| 6 February 2027 | Governorship and State House of Assembly elections |
INEC says nine of the 14 milestones in its election timetable have been completed. More than 103 million voters are registered across 176,846 polling units.
Better pay and more vehicles for staff
- A new salary structure for election staff took effect on 1 January 2026, and INEC says funding for it is still being completed.
- Higher salary, hazard and field allowances have been approved.
- Monthly running costs for state offices have been raised by 150 per cent from 1 July 2026.
- New pick-up vehicles have gone to state and local government offices, and 20 SUVs were bought for Resident Electoral Commissioners.
Technology
INEC says it is configuring 57,000 new Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines, the devices used to check voters’ fingerprints and faces at polling units. It is also auditing its electronic results platforms and has launched an online portal showing where voters can collect their Permanent Voter Cards.
Security
The commission said security agencies will coordinate more closely, down to local government and Registration Area level, through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.
Why it matters
The 2027 election will be the first held under the Electoral Act 2026, and it comes earlier in the year than previous elections. How well INEC’s staff, machines and results system perform will decide whether Nigerians trust the outcome.
Want to check you can vote? Read our guide: how to check your name, polling unit and PVC.
