INEC propose N873 billion for 2027 general election elections
…NASS seek full release of commission’s funds The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would require about N873.778 billion for the successful conduct of the 2027 general elections, Chairman of the
...NASS seek full release of commission's funds
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would require about N873.778 billion for the successful conduct of the 2027 general elections, Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan has said.
The money is however not part of the Commission's 2026 budget proposal as the commission planned to spend N171 billion for it's operations in 2026, including the conduct of bye elections and off cycle elections.
However, the National Assembly is asking the full release of the Commission's annual budget as an agency on the first line charge as that would show the real independence of the commission.
Presenting the Commission's 2026 budget and the budget for the 2027 general elections before the National Assembly joint Committee on Electoral Matters, Prof Amupitan said the election budget does not include the fresh proposal by the Management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for an increase in the allowances paid to Corps members working as ad-hoc staff during elections.
Although he did not give details of what is required by the Commission for the successful conduct of the general election, Amupitan said the nearly one trillion budget is broken down into four operational areas.
These are Operation cost which is allocated N379.748 billion; Administrative cost which is allocated N92.317 billion; Technological cost which is allocated N209.206 billion and election capital cost which is allocated N154.905 billion, while miscellaneous was allocated N42.608 billion.
He said the election budget prepared in line with section 3(3) of the 2022 Electoral Act which provided that the budget for the conduct of election should be ready at least one year to the conduct of the general election.
He also said while the Ministry of Finance gave the Commission an envelope of N140 billion for the operation of the commission in 2026, the commission is proposing an expenditure of N171 billion for 2026.
This, he said is made up of personnel cost of N109 billion; overhead cost of N18.7, conduct of election allocated N42.63 billion and capital allocation of N1.4 billion.
Prof. Amupitan said that the envelope system of budgeting is not helpful to the operations of the commission, adding that the operations of the commission require urgent attentions most times.
He said part of the challenges facing the commission is the issue of lack of a dedicated network, adding that if the commission is able to develop it's own network, then Nigerians can hold them responsible for any hitch.
In his contribution, Senator representing Edo North, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole said agencies of government outside the commission should not be dictating to the commission in what budget system they should use because of the peculiar nature of their work.
Oshiomhole said the envelope system of budgeting should be set aside where the commission is concerned while the parliament should work with what the commission wants and not give them room to complain about why no the failed.
A member of the House of Representatives from Edo state, Billy Osawaru said the budget of the commission should be placed on the first line charge as contained in the constitution and money so budgeted for them released at once for proper planning and execution of its mandate.
The Joint committee approved the motion requiring aone time release of the Commission's annual budget.
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The committee said it will consider the request for an increase in allowances for Corps members by the NYSC amounting to about N32 billion at N125,000 per Corps member.
Chairman of the Senate Committee in INEC, Senator Simon Along said the commission will work with the commission to ensure that all that is required for the successful conduct of the 2027 general election is made available to the commission.
Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Bayo Balogun also assured the commission that they will do everything possible to assist them in delivering on their mandate, but warned against making huge promises that will put them in trouble.
He said "the last INEC made lots of promises like the upload of results to the IREV and making it look as if you can be viewing the results of elections on the IREV like you do on television.
"Meanwhile, the IREV was not even in the electoral act. It was only in INEC regulations. So, be careful how you make promises".
