The Joint Committee on Electoral Matters has proposed a reduction in the salaries of legislators and executive members by 30% and 40%, respectively.
This proposal was made on Monday during an interactive session with the Judiciary and political parties, led by Senator Sharafadeen Alli, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, as part of the National Assembly’s review and amendment of the Electoral Act 2022.
The committee suggested cutting the salaries of legislators by 30% and those of the executive members by 40% to reduce costs.
During the session, political parties also recommended that all elections—presidential, National Assembly, governorship, and State Houses of Assembly—be conducted on a single day, arguing that the current staggered election system is not cost-effective.
They further proposed linking continuous voter registration to the National Identity Number (NIN) for enhanced security and cost savings during the registration process.
Among the 35 proposals presented by the IPAC Chair during the three-day retreat, the registered political parties also suggested that the appointment of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman should no longer be the responsibility of the executive but should instead be open to interested candidates through a public advertisement.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the joint committee has pledged to engage with INEC and Nigerians across the board to gather feedback, minimize disruptions, and ensure future elections are conducted smoothly and without conflict.