The clarification by the Independent National Electoral Commission on its demand for a sum of N1.5 billion as the operating cost for the processing and issuance of the Certified True Copy of the national voters register has generated more controversy, as Nigerians continue to criticise the electoral umpire for its bogus demand. The electoral commission
The clarification by the Independent National Electoral Commission on its demand for a sum of N1.5 billion as the operating cost for the processing and issuance of the Certified True Copy of the national voters register has generated more controversy, as Nigerians continue to criticise the electoral umpire for its bogus demand.
The electoral commission came under heavy criticism when, in response to an FOI request demanded the sum of N1.5 billion from the applicant to obtain the documents. According to the INEC letter, V-C Ottaokpuku & Associates, a law firm, requested a certified true copy of the National Register of Voters as well as information about all existing polling units across the country.
However, the electoral commission demanded a sum of One Billion, Five Hundred and Five Million, Nine Hundred and One Thousand, Seven Hundred and Fifty Naira only (N1,505,901,750) from the law firm, leading to different backlashes from Nigerians, with some civil society organisations describing the demand as an attempt to frustrate access to information in the public institutions.
However, the electoral commission, in its defence, issued a clarification statement to justify its request for the said money, stating that the demand was made in accordance with INEC Guidelines for the Processing and Issuance of Certified True Copies (CTC) of Documents, which draws authority from Section 15 of the Electoral Act 2022.
Mrs Victoria Eta-Messi, INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, who signed the statement, states that according to electoral law, the standard cost of producing a document, including duplication and transcription, is 250 Naira per page.
In its justification, the electoral commission clarified that the National Register of Voters for all 36 states and the FCT contains 93,469,008 registered voters, with 16 voters per page, requiring 6,018,661 pages, and that printing the existing polling units in electoral wards across the country, covering 176,848 polling units, will require 4,946 pages. Due to this, INEC explained the total number of pages it would print for both requests would be 6,023,607, at a unit cost of 250 Naira per page, resulting in the total sum of 1,505,901,750 Naira.
The statement reads, “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) wishes to clarify matters concerning the recent request by Messrs V.C. Ottaokpukpu & Associates for Certified True Copies (CTCs) of the National Register of Voters for all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as well as the existing polling units in the electoral wards across the country.
“The Commission received the request on 8th October 2025 and responded on 13th October 2025, approving the application while outlining the cost for processing and issuance. The sum quoted – 1,505,901,750 Naira – has become a subject of media attention and public inquiry.
“INEC emphasises that the cost is determined strictly in line with the provisions of Section 8(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2011, which states that:
“Where access to information is to be given under this Act, the public institution may charge an amount representing the actual cost of document duplication and transcription.”
“In accordance with INEC Guidelines for the Processing and Issuance of Certified True Copies (CTC) of Documents, which draws authority from Section 15 of the Electoral Act 2022, the applicable charge is 250 Naira per page.
“For clarity, the National Register of Voters for all 36 states and the FCT contains 93,469,008 registered voters, with 16 voters per page, requiring 6,018661 pages. Additionally, printing the existing polling units in the electoral wards across the country, covering 176,848 polling units, will require 4,946 pages. The total number of pages to be printed for both requests is therefore 6,023,607, at a unit cost of 250 Naira per page, resulting in the total sum of 1,505,901,750 Naira.
“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. INEC remains committed to transparency, accountability, and the responsible management of public resources,” he said.
While the clarification was supposed to lay the matter bare, the reverse has been the case, as INEC’s explanation appears to be impenetrable to convince Nigerians of its justification. Instead, the citizens have continued to pose questions on the demanded cost of producing the documents, thereby stirring more controversy.
Some of the common reactions to the electoral commission on the demand for N1.5 billion revolve around the probe of the standard cost of N250 for transcription and duplication as stated by the electoral act.
In their arguments, Nigerians questioned the rationale for making the average cost of duplicating and transcribing the document in a public setting like the electoral body, while the cost in the open market could be lower.
Meanwhile, NDR reached out to Mr Elujoba Adebowale, the managing director of Impactlogic Printing Press, a registered and independent printing press based in Lagos, who stated that the cost of duplicating a page of any document is on average N100.
“An average cost of photocopying goes for 100, at least across Lagos. Although the price can vary based on the number of pages to work on”
However, he expressed uncertainty about the procedure and the cost of document transcription, explaining that it would be challenging to estimate the cost because it might be exclusive to the electoral commission.
