INEC chairman tasks NBS on data for PWDs’ access to election centres

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has urged the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, to include the needs of persons with disabilities, PWDs, in its data on public facilities across the country.

Yakubu made the call on Tuesday in Abuja when he received the Statistician-General of the Federation, Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, and senior officials of the Bureau at the INEC headquarters.

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According to the INEC boss, many polling units and ward collation centres are located in public schools that often lack basic amenities such as water, electricity, and ramps for voters with disabilities. He said it was important for NBS to capture these gaps in its reports to help improve accessibility and ensure inclusive elections.

“Stakeholders, especially the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and groups representing the community of persons with disability, have appealed to the Commission to improve these facilities by providing electricity, water and access facilities such as ramps,” Yakubu said.

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He added that the locations of polling units and collation centres were available on the Commission’s website, through the Atlas of Electoral Constituencies and the Electoral Facilities Locator (EFLoc).

On his part, Prince Adeniran explained that the NBS coordinates the largest statistical system in Africa, which includes state bureaus of statistics, ministries, agencies, and tertiary institutions. He said the Bureau’s mandate goes beyond producing data, as it also harmonises and manages information generated by different government bodies.

“Our data is not only used by government for planning but also by private organisations, international partners such as IMF, UNICEF and the World Bank, and civil society groups,” the Statistician-General said.

He noted that the Bureau produces data through household surveys, enterprise surveys, and administrative records from ministries and agencies. He added that the partnership with INEC would make vital electoral data more usable for development planning.

Yakubu described the collaboration as a step toward strengthening national institutions while maintaining INEC’s independence. “We are always willing to partner with national agencies within the confines of the law,” he said.

The visit marks the first formal meeting between INEC and the NBS.

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