No Pay, No Work! INEC Ad-hoc Staff Protest Mars Election In 25 Lagos Wards

They insist that except they are paid N20,000 they are meant to collect, they will not go to the polling units to commence voting process.

Some of the protesting INEC staff

Ad-hoc staff members of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) detailed to distribute voting materials in 25 wards under Ikeja local government of Lagos state have refused to move voting materials for the commencement of voting process.

Daily Trust correspondents who were at the Local Government Primary School, Ikeja witnessed the protest of the ad-hoc staff, many of whom are corps members.

They insist that except they are paid N20,000 they are meant to collect,  they will not go to the polling units to commence voting process.

One of the Corps members who spoke to our correspondents lamented that they had to take the action because the INEC officials in the state refused to pay them their allowances for the Presidential and National Assembly elections held on February 23.

“No pay, no work! We won’t move out from here except the N20,000 due to us are paid in full. We received N7,000 alert but we are not ready to be taken for granted again like they did during the presidential election,” the ad-hoc  staff, who craved anonymity, said.

The INEC Supervisory Polling Officer (SPO) met at the primary school said there is nothing she can do about the situation as the available money has been shared at N7,000 per each corps member.

“We have distributed materials since yesterday evening. But they are insisting that they won’t move to the field to commence polling.  What can I do?  Where am I going to get the N20,000 each which they are demanding?” the SPO said.