By Emmanuel Oloniruha

 

The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), says the Federal Government is committed to democratic governance through the timely release of statutory budgetary allocations to the commission.

 

Amupitan disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday during a World News Conference and National Stakeholders’ Meeting, convened to mark 100 days to the 2027 general election.

 

Amupitan said that executing a national election of such magnitude required robust financial backing and fiscal discipline.

 

“Operating under a framework of transparent fiscal management, these funds have enabled us to meet international vendor obligations.

 

“Also, to finance the production of critical election technology, upgrade physical infrastructure, and sustain multi-stakeholder operational deployments nationwide,’’ he said.

 

Amupiatn, however, said that  the commission expected the prompt release of the remaining budget to ensure seamless execution of the remaining activities.

 

He said that INEC had  moved from planning and tendering into active contract execution, production, delivery and construction.

 

He disclosed that contracts have been awarded, and production was advanced for 57,000 new Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices, additional voting cubicles and ballot boxes.

 

“Some of the newly acquired BVAS have been delivered, while delivery of new operational vehicles is ongoing nationwide.

 

“Construction of dedicated BVAS storage facilities and Local Government Area offices is progressing, alongside nationwide office renovations.

 

The contract for solar power installation across all the commission’s offices has been awarded,’’ he said.

 

Amupitan added that upgrades to critical Information and Communication (ICT) applications and core infrastructure were being implemented.

 

He disclosed that while some states had started receiving some non-sensitive materials, the procurement for the printing of ballot papers and result sheets was nearly completed and advancing towards final contract award.

 

“The Procurement Department continues to monitor supplier, contractor and inter-departmental delivery schedules closely, so that all procurement is aligned with statutory timelines,’’ he said.

 

He also disclosed that for the 2027 general election, the commission would require 707,384 ad hoc personnel for the Presidential and National Assembly elections on Jan. 16, and the same number for state elections on Feb. 6.

 

“That is a total of 1,414,768 engagements across 176,846 polling units, compared with about 1.2 million in 2023.

 

“As in previous cycles, the bulk of this workforce will be drawn from the National Youth Service Corps.

 

“In 2023, more than 70 per cent of our ad hoc staff, nearly 850,000 people, were corps members and student volunteers,” he said.

 

The chairman noted that NYSC remained the most resourceful, disciplined and dependable pillar of the nation’s electoral process.

 

“We are committed to strengthening the insurance, welfare and security arrangements for every corps member who serves,’’ he added.

 

Amupitan reminded eligible Nigerians interested in the ongoing ad hoc staff recruitment that the process would close at midnight on Nov. 18.

 

He also added that INEC media accreditation portal would go live before the end of October to receive applications from credible international and domestic media organisations.

 

He encouraged organisations planning to cover the general election to use the window to apply early and complete the process.(NAN)