‘No decent wages, no credible elections’ — Sowore demands N500,000 Minimum wage for INEC staff

African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate and human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore has demanded a baseline monthly wage of N500,000 for personnel of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), asserting that transparent and credible elections cannot be conducted without equitable compensation for electoral workers.

“No decent wages, no credible elections,” Sowore stated. “Nigeria’s electoral workers must be well paid. INEC staff cannot be expected to safeguard the integrity of our elections while being poorly compensated. INEC staff deserve a minimum wage of N500,000. Electoral integrity must begin with decent working conditions and a living wage for the people entrusted with administering our elections.”
 

Nigeria’s electoral workers must be well paid. @inecnigeria staff cannot be expected to safeguard the integrity of our elections while being poorly compensated.

 

@inecnigeria staff deserve a minimum wage of ₦500,000. Electoral integrity must begin with decent working conditions and a living wage for the people entrusted with administering our elections.

 

If these workers continue to be treated with contempt, I will join them to boycott the 2027 elections, they have every right to organize and demand better conditions, including through lawful industrial action.

 

No decent wages, no credible elections! #SOWORE2027

— Omoyele Sowore (@sowore) October 6, 2026

 Sowore’s demand followed public disclosures by INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan, who lamented that commission staff remain among the lowest-paid public servants in the country despite carrying the critical institutional mandate of managing national elections.