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

The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, Omoyele Sowore, has demanded a minimum wage of N500,000 for staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

In a post on his verified X handle, Sowore said there could be no credible elections without decent wages.

Recall that the INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, on Tuesday lamented that the commission’s staff were the least paid in Nigeria.

Reacting, Sowore, a human rights activist, said, “No decent wages, no credible elections.

“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.

“If these workers continue to be treated with contempt, I will join them in boycotting the 2027 elections. They have every right to organise and demand better conditions, including through lawful industrial action.”