INEC spends N65.9m on staff allowances for Kogi election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has paid N65.9 million to 7,973 ad hoc staff it deployed to conduct the December 3, 2011 governorship elections in Kogi.

Ahmed Biambo, the Public Affairs Officer, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lokoja that the cash was paid to 239 collation officers and 2,548 presiding officers, 4,444 assistant presiding officers, 25 local government supervisors and one returning officer.

He said the funds covered transport, feeding, and the election duty allowances of the electoral officials, saying that the local government supervisors were also paid duty travel allowances based on their locations.

Giving a breakdown of the amount disbursed , Mr. Biambo said that the 239 collation officers at ward and local government levels received N7.4 million, while N26.7 million was paid to the 2,548 presiding officers that participated in the election.

According to him, assistant presiding officers received N31.1 million while the local government supervisors received N625, 000.

The spokesman, however, said that the N3,000 training allowance of the presiding officers and the assistant presiding officers who were mostly serving youth corps members had yet to be paid, but that the money had been remitted to the NYSC.