The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained why it is charging ₦1.5 billion to fulfill a Freedom of Information (FOI) request for certified copies of the National Register of Voters and polling unit data nationwide.
The request, submitted by V.C. Ottaokpukpu & Associates on October 8, 2025, sought official voter records for all 36 states and the FCT, along with details of 176,848 polling units. INEC approved the request on October 13 and quoted a total cost of ₦1,505,901,750 — a figure that has since drawn widespread public attention and criticism.
In a statement issued Thursday, INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi, clarified that the fee was calculated in line with Section 8(1) of the FOI Act 2011, which allows public institutions to charge the actual cost of duplication and transcription.
INEC stated that the voter register includes over 93 million entries, requiring more than 6 million pages to print at a rate of ₦250 per page, as set by INEC’s certified document processing guidelines based on Section 15 of the Electoral Act 2022.
According to the commission, the cost reflects only document production — not additional fees — and is consistent with legal standards for issuing Certified True Copies.
The letter approving the release, signed by INEC Secretary Rose Oriaran-Anthony, instructed the applicants to pay via the Remita system before receiving the documents.
While the high cost sparked online debate, critics argued that such fees could discourage access to public information. Others, however, defended INEC, citing the legal requirement for physical certification of documents requested under the FOI Act.
INEC reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability, and proper use of public resources.
