INEC Clarifies ₦1.5bn Fee for Voter Register FOI Request!

Reported by Marian Opeyemi Fasesan | Sele Media Africa

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has responded to public backlash over the ₦1.5 billion fee imposed on a Freedom of Information (FOI) request for certified copies of Nigeria’s National Register of Voters and polling unit data.

What We Know:

• The fee was requested by INEC in response to an FOI application filed by a civic group seeking detailed voter registration data.
• INEC said the cost reflects logistical, administrative, and certification expenses involved in processing millions of records across 176,000 polling units.
• The commission maintained that FOI compliance does not mean requests must be fulfilled for free — especially when certification and large-scale data production are involved.

Official Statement:

INEC spokesperson Festus Okoye clarified:

“The fee is not arbitrary. It covers the actual cost of extracting, certifying, and reproducing sensitive electoral materials on a national scale.”

Why It Matters:

• The issue raises debate over transparency versus affordability in public data access.
• Critics argue that the cost undermines the spirit of the FOI Act and discourages civic oversight.
• Legal experts say the case could test the boundaries of public institutions’ obligations under FOI law.

Citations:

1. INEC Press Brief – Oct. 2025
2. SERAP Statement – www.serap-nigeria.org
3. Premium Times – www.premiumtimesng.com

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