By Joy Odor, Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday inaugurated its first-ever Joint Consultative Committee (JCC), a milestone designed to strengthen staff welfare, foster dialogue, and consolidate institutional harmony.
The inauguration, held at INEC headquarters in Abuja, was presided over by Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and witnessed by National Commissioners, Directors, representatives of the Minister of Labour and Productivity, and newly elected JCC officials from across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Prof. Yakubu, in his keynote address, reaffirmed staff welfare as the Commission’s top priority, pledging continued prompt salary payments and unveiling plans to clear outstanding arrears from the new national minimum wage.
“Staff matters are very dear to the Commission. The most important aspect of staff welfare for me is the payment of our monthly salaries. No matter how small, it must be regular,” he declared.
He reassured staff that the three-month arrears from January to March 2024 would be systematically cleared by November 2024, beginning with partial payments at the end of September.
The INEC boss emphasized that the JCC is not a trade union but a dialogue platform for constructive engagement.
Drawing from his student union leadership experience, he urged members to embrace negotiation and collaboration rather than confrontation.
Providing historical context, INEC Secretary Mrs. Rose Oriaran-Anthony explained that the JCC emerged from a February 2022 ministerial directive classifying INEC staff as essential workers, thus barring them from unionism.
To bridge the gap, the Commission initiated the steering committee that birthed the JCC framework. “What we are witnessing today is the delivery of a healthy baby after a nine-month gestation period,” she remarked.
At the national level, the following officials were sworn in:
President: Mrs. Vera O. Awoh
Vice President: Mr. Mohammed Umar Garba
General Secretary: Mrs. Rafatu Ibrahim
Assistant Secretary: Mr. Adamu Abimelech
Treasurer: Mr. Shagari Gayus Musa
Legal Adviser: Mr. Bashir M. Abubakar
Chief Whip: Mr. Abdulkareem Adams
PRO: Mrs. Julie O. Osezua
Representing the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Prince Donald Kehinde Fakunle lauded the inauguration as “the voice of the voiceless,” while cautioning against misuse.
“The JCC is not a platform for strike action. It is for dialogue, roundtable discussions, and constructive engagement,” he advised.
In her acceptance speech, the new JCC President, Mrs. Vera Awoh, expressed gratitude to INEC’s leadership and pledged to work harmoniously with management.
“We now have a platform, and we now have a voice. Our goal is to foster a productive work environment that supports the Commission’s mandate of consolidating Nigerian democracy,” she said.
The inauguration of the JCC is expected to mark a new era of staff-management relations within INEC, providing employees with a structured channel for dialogue while reinforcing the Commission’s commitment to welfare and transparency.
