Why INEC priotize Office Complex over Staff Welfare- INEC Staff

The Staff of the nation's electoral body,the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) have been groaning over the non-a challantant attitude of the authority of the Commission towards the welfare of its workforce,insisting that the authourity of the electoral body prioritized office complex over staff welfare.

Investigation revealed that the Commissions' members of the Staff  were not happy with way and manner in which the authourity were handling anything that has to do with the Staff welfare,especially,the junior staff which their living wages were nothing to write home about.

The concern staff of the electoral body who pleaded annonymity,disclosed that the INEC staff have been facing with this challenges since the incumbent Chairman of the body,Professor Mahmood Yakubu reappointed by former President Muhamud Buhari.

They rated the Commission Chairman as poor administrator in term of staff welfare which made the few cliques in Commission to be manipulating the internal affairs of the body by appointing unqualified personnel to hold the sensitive duty positiond in contrary to the civil service rules and regulations and also directive from the Commission's authourity.

Adding that the professional and other personnel whose their duties,are to man the system of the Commission have become the field officers through nepotism and favouritism with the sole aim of interfacing with the politicians and members of the authourity in the various State offices of the electral body.

The affectected staff were not happy with the recent development in the Commission over the inauguration of the new office

complex by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu when the Commission still owing its staff many months of  minimum wage and wage award  arrears with pensions arrears of its retirees.

The Staff stated that several memos and circulars have been allegedly released towards the payment of these arrears to the affected staff but to no avail and instead,new office complex was given priority over the staff welfare by the INEC's Chairman and the other members of his team.

They described the recent office complex inauguration as a greek gift to find take home to Mahmood and his boys who will soon complete their tenure of office,adding that the second term of five years of office of the Commission's Chairman,Professor Mahmood would end by November this year.

Appealing to the President Bola Tinubu to prevail on the authority of the electoral body to pay the arrears still owing the staff amidst present economy challenges as a result of the subsidy removal and other economic policy of the current adminstration in the country.

It would be recalled that while the Commission's Chairman,Professor Mahmood was defending the 2025 budget of the Commission before the National Assembly,he presented the sum of N126 billion before National Assembly against the previous N40 billion allocation to the Commission.

But the National Assembly in its wisdom and magnamity approved the sum of N140 billion to the Connission in the 2025 annual budget to take care of its staff welfare for optimum output because they were the bedrock of the nation's current democractic experiment.

The Commission,in its reaction to the Staff grieviances,explained through its Bulleting that the new office complex was part of the staff welfare as affected staff declared that they would not take new office complex to the market to buy things home.

INEC explained furtner that the Commission was addressing the recent commentary from various sources regarding the construction of its new headquarters annex in Abuja, reaffirming its constitutional autonomy and emphasizing that the staff welfare remains central to its institutional priorities.

Speaking to INEC Bulletin, the Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs. Victoria Eta-Messi, addressed what she described as “misleading narratives” around the role of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) in the project and concerns that the Commission is allegedly placing infrastructure above the welfare of its workforce.

“INEC remains firmly guided by the principles of independence and non-partisanship as provided in Sections 158(1) and 81(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” she stated. “These provisions guarantee the Commission’s operational and financial autonomy, which remain intact and unshaken.”

She noted that the involvement of the FCDA in the ongoing project is entirely consistent with historical precedent and administrative practice. According to her, the FCDA has long provided institutional accommodation to federal establishments within the Federal Capital Territory, including INEC, notably during its relocation from Lagos to Abuja in 1991 and again in 1997 when the current headquarters building was constructed.

“This is the third time in 34 years that the FCDA is supporting INEC with office infrastructure,” Mrs. Eta-Messi said. “It is neither new nor extraordinary, it is a continuation of a lawful, longstanding precedent.”

The new annex, she explained, is not just a structure of convenience but a strategic investment aimed at addressing critical operational needs. The building will house additional office space, a 1,000-seat auditorium, modern conference and meeting rooms, as well as purpose-built facilities for key electoral operations such as the Election Monitoring and Support Centre (EMSC).

Responding to claims that the project overlooks staff welfare, Mrs. Eta-Messi countered that such views fail to recognise the integral link between infrastructure and staff well-being.

“Infrastructure is staff welfare,” she said. “The current headquarters was originally built to accommodate 500 staff, eight commissioners, and ten departments. Today, the Commission operates with more than 1,000 staff, 13 Commission members, and 22 departments. The resulting congestion has a direct impact on productivity, morale, and efficiency.”

She noted that the Commission has been compelled to rent additional buildings to manage its daily operations due to the severe space constraints, adding that the new annex is essential to alleviating these pressures and improving overall service delivery.

Beyond physical infrastructure, the Commission continues to explore avenues for enhancing staff remuneration, training, and general well-being, within the bounds of public service regulations and statutory appropriations.

While welcoming public scrutiny, Mrs. Eta-Messi called for more informed and constructive engagement that acknowledges both the historical context and the operational realities of managing a complex national institution like INEC.

“The 2027 General Election is not threatened by improved infrastructure,” she stated. “It is, in fact, strengthened when the men and women who drive the electoral process are given the tools, space, and support to perform effectively.”

INEC reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to credible, transparent, and efficient elections, stressing that all decisions, including infrastructural investments, are anchored on its constitutional mandate and its responsibility to serve the Nigerian people better.