An appeal has gone to the Federal Government to authorize the regular payment of salaries to staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The President, Civil Society Coalition on Election Monitoring and Observation in Nigeria (CSCEMON), Mr. Emmanuel Nkweke, who made this observation in a statement made available to THISDAY in Warri yesterday, noted that the salaries of INEC staff needed to be paid promptly in view of their very essential national assignment.

According to Nweke, the country could not hope to protect the commission's workers from the allure of financial inducement and other forms of corruption if their pay or entitlement was unduly delayed. Specifically, he said that the cause of democracy in Nigeria would be ultimately enhanced when the quality of all the resources, especially human, invested into the processes of election were prioritized.