Ad hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ondo State, who were involved in the November 16 governorship election, have expressed frustration over the non-payment of their allowances, threatening to stage a protest if the issue is not resolved soon.
The affected staff, numbering over 17,000, had undergone technical training before the election and were deployed to various roles throughout the election process.
Despite the passage of more than two weeks since the election, many of these staff members have yet to receive their promised allowances.
Speaking from Akure, the state capital, several staff members voiced their grievances, revealing that INEC had initially assured them of payment on the election day itself.
Some of the staff, preferring to remain anonymous, claimed they were told they would receive less than N20,000 each, but payments have still not been made.
One Supervisory Presiding Officer (SPO) expressed frustration, saying, “We never expected to be left unpaid for this long. INEC is not responding to us, and we are left in the dark. It’s very disappointing, especially since we were promised payment on the day of the election.”
Another staff member, accusing INEC of “using and dumping” them, called on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and other stakeholders to intervene and ensure the payment is made.
The worker also confirmed that there is growing anger among the ad hoc staff, with plans for a peaceful protest at the INEC office if the allowances are not paid by Tuesday.
“I’m ready to join the protest if we don’t get paid soon. It’s been over two weeks, and we feel like we’ve been forgotten. There’s no reason for INEC not to pay us,” the staff member said.
However, Dr. Temitope Akanmu, the INEC spokesperson in Ondo State, denied the claims, stating that payments had already begun.
He explained that some delays were due to issues with the financial institutions involved. Akanmu assured the staff that any remaining payment issues would be addressed promptly.
“We’ve already paid most of the staff, but there are a few who are still facing banking issues. We’re working closely with them to resolve these problems, and the payments will be completed shortly,” he said.
“The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Oluwatoyin Babalola, is aware of the issue and is closely monitoring the situation to ensure a swift resolution.”
