The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected the N40 billion earmarked for it in the 2025 budget estimates but tacitly got approval for the N126 billion it proposed to the National Assembly through its joint committee on INEC and Electoral Matters.
Rejection of the N40 billion yearly budget envelope for the electoral body was made by its Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, to the joint committee on Friday during budget defence session.
In his presentation before the joint committee chaired by Senator Sarafadeen Alli (APC, Oyo South), the INEC boss said elections in Nigeria have become a huge burden requiring adequate funding.
“Our proposal for the 2025 budget, the provision requires the sum of over N126 billion. We have the document that has provided details line by line on how we intended to spend the 126 billion. We would like the support of the National Assembly to enable us to achieve our responsibilities in the first line charge and most of these responsibilities are constitutional,” Yakubu said.
“In a nutshell, the N40 billion budget envelope given us for 2025 will not cover 1/3 of projected expenses which totally amounts to over N126 billion.
“Aside the off-cycle elections for 21 constituencies to be filled through bye-elections and the Anambra Governorship election this year, personnel cost alone on account of new minimum wage will eat up the N40 billion budgetary envelope,” he said.
The INEC Chairman added that the inadequacy of the N40 billion budget envelope made the electoral body to get intervention funds of N10.5 billion for Edo and Ondo elections in 2024 and another N500 million for bye-elections on affected constituencies in 2024.
Apparently convinced by the INEC proposal, members of the joint committee, one after the other, assured the electoral body that the proposed sum shall be appropriated for in the 2025 fiscal year.
Specifically, Senator Ireti Kingibe (LP FCT) said, “The situation at hand is not about looking for the N126 billion for INEC in 2025 fiscal year but providing it.”
The joint committee thereafter went into closed-door session with the INEC Chairman and Federal Commissioners on how to source for the fund and appropriate it in the 2025 budget.
