The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has unveiled a new staff reward scheme that includes cash incentives, recommendation letters and opportunities for foreign travel as part of efforts to motivate personnel ahead of the August 15 Osun State governorship election.
Prof. Amupitan announced the initiative during a working visit to the INEC headquarters in Osogbo, where he met with electoral officers and other members of staff after paying a courtesy visit to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi.
Addressing the officials, the INEC Chairman stressed that the forthcoming governorship election would serve as a major test of the Commission’s credibility ahead of the 2027 general elections, noting that public expectations were high.
He said the Commission was committed to reducing political tension in the state by conducting a transparent, peaceful and conclusive election, urging staff to contribute their expertise to overcoming operational challenges.
To encourage excellence, Amupitan disclosed that the Commission had introduced a performance-based reward system under which outstanding electoral officers and local government offices that ensure the timely commencement of voting across all polling units would receive special recognition.
According to him, the incentives include financial rewards, recommendation letters and opportunities for international travel, while warning that failure to ensure prompt commencement of polling would attract serious consequences.
The INEC Chairman expressed confidence that, with the support of ad hoc personnel to be recruited for the exercise, the Commission would successfully conduct the Osun governorship election.
Reflecting on the Commission’s recent performance, he noted that since assuming office nine months ago, INEC had successfully conducted governorship elections in Anambra, the Federal Capital Territory and Ekiti, as well as several by-elections, without any of the outcomes being successfully challenged.
Amupitan, however, raised concerns over recent security threats to the Commission’s operations, citing an incident in which Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines were hijacked and electoral personnel assaulted.
He assured staff that the Commission was working closely with security agencies to strengthen the protection of electoral materials, facilities and personnel ahead of the election.
According to him, INEC is collaborating with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) and the National Peace Committee to ensure a peaceful electoral process, adding that security assessments in Osun had improved in recent weeks.
The INEC Chairman also called for a sustainable funding model for the Commission, arguing that the rising cost of organising state elections now exceeds the cost of conducting some federal elections.
He maintained that beyond credibility, the peaceful conduct of elections remains a key benchmark for measuring the Commission’s success.
Amupitan further urged staff to remain vigilant against misinformation and disinformation, describing false information as a major challenge capable of undermining the electoral process if not effectively managed.
Also speaking, the National Commissioner in charge of the South-West, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, described the INEC Chairman as a strong advocate for staff welfare and assured employees that their well-being would continue to receive priority.
Ajayi said the Commission had made adequate preparations for the Osun governorship election and expressed confidence that its dedicated workforce would deliver a free, fair, inclusive and conclusive poll.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun State, Barrister Oluwatoyin Babalola, also assured the Commission’s leadership that officials in the state were fully prepared for the assignment.
She said every aspect of the election would be handled with professionalism, accountability and integrity to strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process.
Babalola encouraged staff to discharge their responsibilities with renewed commitment and patriotism, pledging that the Commission would conduct a free, fair, credible, inclusive and transparent governorship election.
As part of preparations for the August 15 poll, Prof. Amupitan is expected to hold further consultations with security agencies and other critical stakeholders to ensure a peaceful and successful electoral process in Osun State.
