The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has directed its staff to suspend further annual leave as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections.

INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, announced the directive on Friday, November 6, during the commission’s North-Central zonal interactive meeting with staff and readiness assessment in Lokoja, Kogi State.

Amupitan said the approaching elections require greater commitment, discipline and operational efficiency from all personnel. He warned that staff found guilty of negligence, political partisanship, absenteeism or financial misconduct would face disciplinary action.

Alongside the directive, the commission announced a series of welfare and operational measures aimed at improving staff motivation and strengthening its capacity ahead of the polls.

The chairman disclosed that INEC had introduced a new salary structure known as the Consolidated Election Management Body Salary Structure (CEMBSS), which took effect from January 1, 2026. He added that enhanced salary, hazard and field allowance packages had also been approved.

The commission also approved a 150 per cent increase in monthly overhead allocations to its state offices, effective July 1, 2026.

On logistics, Amupitan said operational vehicles had been distributed to state and local government offices, while 20 additional Sports Utility Vehicles had been procured for Resident Electoral Commissioners.

He further disclosed that INEC was preparing 57,000 newly procured Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices and reviewing its electronic result management systems ahead of the elections.

The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will hold on February 6, 2027.

The measures form part of INEC’s wider efforts to strengthen personnel readiness, improve election logistics and enhance public confidence in the 2027 electoral process.