INEC chairman urges co-operative to embrace transparency, discipline

Joash Amupitan, chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has called on the leadership of the Commission’s Staff Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society to manage members’ funds with the same discipline and transparency expected in national elections.

Speaking at the Society’s 19th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and election of new officers on Wednesday, at INEC Headquarters, Abuja, Amupitan warned against mismanagement of co-operative resources, describing members’ savings as a sacred trust.

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“Co-operative money belongs to the members. The Exco is merely a trustee,” he said, urging outgoing and incoming executives to maintain open books, traceable transactions, and clear justification for every financial decision.

He also advised members to conduct the internal election with fairness and unity, reflecting the Commission’s electoral standards.

The Chairman reaffirmed INEC’s support for the Co-operative, describing it as a vital arm of staff welfare and economic empowerment.

In his annual report, Nenrot Gana, president of the Co-operative Society, highlighted achievements including quick loan disbursements, automation of transactions, prompt settlement of savings for retiring members, and improved trust.

He also announced that members now have access to all SAHAD Stores and partnerships with Samsung, LG, and Thermocool remain active.

Gana confirmed that the 2026 Co-operative elections will be conducted online via the Fuse Go app.

The AGM concluded with the election of officers, returning Gana as President unopposed. Other key positions were similarly filled, mostly unopposed, while contested roles were settled peacefully, reflecting INEC’s ethos of fairness and transparency.

Ruth Tene, Assistant Editor, Agric/Solid Minerals/INEC

Ruth Tene is an award-winning journalist with over 15 years experience in developmental reporting across several newsrooms, as a reporter, editor and other managerial roles. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism from the University of Maiduguri among several other certifications

She has attended several trainings and certifications both locally and internationally and has been recognized for her impactful work in humanitarian reporting, receiving the Gold Award for Humanitarian Services from the Amazing Grace Foundation. She is also a recipient of the Home Alliance Fellowship, reflecting her commitment to fostering a more humane, safer and more sustainable planet.

An active member of professional journalism bodies, Ruth is affiliated with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), and the Agricultural Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ACAN), where she continues to advocate for excellence, ethical reporting, and development-focused journalism.

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