INEC CLARIFIES N1.5BN COST FOR VOTERS REGISTER, POLLING UNITS REQUEST

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained the basis for the ₦1.5 billion charge quoted for the processing of Certified True Copies (CTCs) of the National Register of Voters and polling units requested by Messrs V.C. Ottaokpukpu & Associates.

In a statement signed by Mrs. Victoria Eta-Messi, Director of Voter Education & Publicity, on Wednesday, October 16, 2025, the Commission confirmed that it received the application on October 8 and responded on October 13, approving the request and providing the cost breakdown.

The sum of ₦1,505,901,750, which has attracted media and public attention, was calculated based on Section 8(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2011. The section allows public institutions to charge fees that reflect the “actual cost of document duplication and transcription.”

According to INEC, the National Register of Voters for the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory contains 93,469,008 registered voters. At 16 voters per page, this amounts to 6,018,661 pages. The list of 176,848 polling units across the country adds 4,946 more pages, bringing the total to 6,023,607 pages.

With a statutory fee of ₦250 per page in line with INEC guidelines and Section 15 of the Electoral Act 2022, the cost comes to ₦1,505,901,750.

INEC stressed that the amount covers only the actual duplication and transcription costs, with no additional charges.

The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability, and responsible resource management in line with the law.

See statement below: