Why We Charged N1. 5 Billion For Nigerian Voters’ Information—INEC

<h4>Why We Charged<&sol;h4>&NewLine;<p><strong><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;openlife&period;ng&sol;">OpenLife Nigeria<&sol;a><&sol;strong> reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission&comma; INEC has offered clarifications on the reasons the agency billed Messrs V&period;C Ottaokpukpu &amp&semi; Associates N1&period; 5 billion who requested for full list of voters names across the 36 states of Nigeria&period;<br &sol;>&NewLine;INEC said&colon;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong>CLARIFICATION ON COST OF NATIONAL REGISTER OF VOTERS AND POLLING UNITS REQUEST<&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong>The Independent National Electoral Commission &lpar;INEC&rpar; wishes to clarify matters concerning the recent request by Messrs V&period;C&period; Ottaokpukpu &amp&semi; Associates for Certified True Copies &lpar;CTCs&rpar; of the National Register of Voters for all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory &lpar;FCT&rpar;&comma; as well as the existing polling units in the electoral wards across the country&period;<&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong>The Commission received the request on 8th October 2025 and responded on 13th October 2025&period; approving the application while outlining the cost for processing and issuance&period;<&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong> The sum quoted -1&comma;505&comma;901&comma;750 Naira has become a subject of media attention and public inquiry&period;<&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong>INEC emphasizes that the cost is determined strictly in line with the provisions of Section 8&lpar;1&rpar; of the Freedom of Information Act 2011&comma; which states that&colon;<&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong>&&num;8220&semi;Where access to information is to be given under this Act&comma; the public institution may charge an amount representing the actual cost of document duplication and transcription&period;&&num;8221&semi;<&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong>In accordance with INEC Guidelines for the Processing and Issuance of Certified True Copies &lpar;CTC&rpar; of Documents&comma; which draws authority from Section 15 of the Electoral Act 2022&comma; the applicable charge is 250 Naira per page&period;<&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong>For clarity&comma; the National Register of Voters for all 36 states and the FCT contains 93&comma;469&comma;008 registered voters&comma; with 16 voters per page&comma; requiring 6&comma;018661 pages&period;<&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong> Additionally&comma; printing the existing polling units in the electoral wards across the country&comma; covering 176&comma;848 polling units&comma; will require 4&comma;946 pages&period; <&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong>The total number of pages to be printed for both requests is therefore 6&comma;023607&comma; at a unit cost of 250 Naira per page&comma; resulting in the total sum of 1&comma;505&comma;901&comma;750 Naira&period;<&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong>The Commission wishes to assure the public that this figure reflects only the actual costs of document duplication and transcription and does not include any other charges&period; INEC remains committed to transparency&comma; accountability&comma; and the responsible management of public resources&period;<&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&nbsp&semi;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong>Mrs Victoria Eta-Messi&comma;<&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong>Director&comma; Voter Education &amp&semi; Publicity&comma;<&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong>16th October 2025&period;<&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;