The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has called on the leadership of the Commission’s Staff Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society to handle members’ funds with the same discipline, transparency, and fairness expected in the conduct of national elections.
He gave the charge at the 19th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and election of new officers held on Wednesday, at the INEC headquarters in Abuja.
Prof Amupitan reminded members that the principles guiding Nigeria’s electoral system must equally guide the stewardship of their collective savings.
Speaking with a mix of caution and conviction, the Chairman stressed that co-operative funds were a sacred trust.
He warned that corruption in any form was poisonous to an institution built on confidence and shared responsibility.
“Co-operative money belongs to the members. The Exco is merely a trustee,” he said,
He urged the outgoing and incoming executive committees to maintain open books, traceable transactions, and clear justification for every financial decision.
His message carried the unmistakable tone of a man determined to preserve discipline in every corner of the Commission’s administrative ecosystem.
As members prepared to elect new officers, the INEC Chairman charged them to approach the internal election with the same discipline and fairness INEC demands of public elections. He reminded them that they remain one family and must not allow campaign passions to dilute unity.
Amupitan reaffirmed the Commission’s support for the co-operative, describing it as a vital arm of staff welfare and a model of collective upliftment.
He encouraged members to stay committed to the ideals of transparency, solidarity, and economic empowerment.
The AGM also served as a reminder of the economic pressures facing staff, with the Chairman urging the Society’s leadership to stay focused on members’ welfare, ensure fairness in accessing loans, and uphold equity regardless of rank or connections.
The President of the Co-operative Society, Mr. Nenrot Gana, in his annual report, acknowledged inflation and limited resources as major challenges but said the cooperative remained steadfast in serving members efficiently.
He highlighted quick loan disbursements, the automation of financial transactions, prompt settlement of savings for retiring members, improved stability, and strengthened trust as key achievements of his administration.
Gana also announced that members now had access to shop at all SAHAD Stores in the city, expanding options for essential commodities ahead of the festive season.
