The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has adopted 16 recommendations aimed at strengthening its operational preparedness for the 2027 general elections.

The recommendations were contained in a communiqué adopted at the end of a two-day strategic capacity-building workshop for the commission’s administrative secretaries held in Lagos.

The workshop, which ended on Tuesday at the Marriott Hotel, Ikeja, was attended by administrative secretaries from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as relevant INEC officials, facilitators and resource persons.

Speaking at the closing session, the Secretary to the Commission, Dr Rose Oriaran-Anthony, urged the administrative secretaries to apply the knowledge and tools acquired during the workshop to improve election administration in their respective states.

She said stronger coordination, accountability and operational readiness were necessary to address challenges that could affect the conduct of the 2027 elections.

The workshop, supported by DAI, the European Union and DGM, focused on staff supervision, logistics and deployment of electoral materials, technology, management of ad hoc personnel, security preparedness, infrastructure, monitoring and evaluation.

The communiqué called for clearer delineation of the roles and responsibilities of Resident Electoral Commissioners and administrative secretaries.

It also recommended early identification of security and logistical hotspots, improved staff deployment and transport arrangements, effective reverse logistics and timely assessment of critical infrastructure.

On technology, participants called for the integration of technology readiness into state-level election planning, including equipment, personnel, connectivity, power supply, system testing, technical support and contingency arrangements.

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They further recommended regular mock accreditation exercises, resource-management simulations and technology audits to identify and address technical and operational gaps before the elections.

The participants also identified challenges in the recruitment, training, deployment and performance monitoring of ad hoc election personnel.

They recommended stronger end-to-end management of ad hoc staff through the effective integration of relevant INEC systems.

The communiqué further proposed the creation of a strategic pool of trained and experienced ad hoc personnel, subject to eligibility, performance and ethical requirements, as well as continuous training and performance tracking.

Presenting the communiqué, Dr Eze Uchechukwu-John said the recommendations reflected the key outcomes of the two-day deliberations and provided a framework for further action ahead of the 2027 elections.

The communiqué was subsequently adopted by the participants.

In her closing remarks, the Lagos State Administrative Secretary, Mrs Oluyemi Adeyemi-Showunmi, thanked the commission’s leadership, development partners, facilitators and resource persons for the workshop.

She said the lessons from the engagement would help administrative secretaries improve coordination, supervision, planning and operational preparedness in their respective states ahead of the 2027 general elections.