The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has defended the N1.5 billion fee it quoted in response to a Freedom of Information (FoI) request for Certified True Copies (CTCs) of Nigeria’s National Register of Voters and polling units across the country.
In a press statement issued by Mrs. Victoria Eta-Messi, Director of Voter Education and Publicity, the Commission said the sum—₦1,505,901,750—was calculated strictly based on duplication and transcription costs, as prescribed by law.
The request, submitted on October 8, 2025, by law firm V.C. Ottaokpukpu & Associates, sought CTCs of the complete National Register of Voters for all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), along with a list of all existing polling units in electoral wards nationwide.
INEC responded on October 13, approving the request and providing a cost breakdown. According to the Commission, the quoted amount adheres to Section 8(1) of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, which allows public institutions to charge fees that reflect the “actual cost of document duplication and transcription.”
INEC also cited Section 15 of the Electoral Act, 2022, and its internal guidelines, which peg the processing fee at ₦250 per page for Certified True Copies.
Breaking down the calculation, the Commission revealed that the National Register of Voters includes 93,469,008 registered voters, with data formatted to fit 16 names per page. This results in 6,018,661 pages. The list of 176,848 polling units requires an additional 4,946 pages, bringing the total number of pages to 6,023,607. At ₦250 per page, the total duplication cost stands at ₦1,505,901,750.
INEC stressed that the quoted figure covers only the direct cost of producing the documents and includes no administrative or hidden charges.
“The Commission wishes to assure the public that this figure reflects only the actual costs of document duplication and transcription,” Eta-Messi said. “INEC remains committed to transparency, accountability, and the responsible management of public resources.”
The clarification comes amid public debate and media scrutiny over the size of the fee, with some questioning whether the cost could present a barrier to access to information under the FoI Act.
