The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has rejected N40 billion earmarked for it as 2025 budget estimates, but tacitly got approval for the N126 billion it proposed to the National Assembly.
This was a sequel to the resolution of the joint Committee on INEC and Electoral Matters of both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Rejection of the N40 billion yearly budget envelope for the electoral umpire was made yesterday to the joint committee during the budget defense session by its Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, in his presentation before the joint committee chaired by Senator Sarafadeen Alli (APC Oyo South).
The INEC Chairman, 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 achieve our responsibilities in the first line charge, and most of these responsibilities are constitutional. In a nutshell, the N40 billion budget envelope given us for 2025, will not cover one-third of projected expenses, which amounts to over N126billion”, he added.
He also said, “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.”
Prof. Yakubu also said, the inadequacy of the N40 billion budget envelope made the electoral body 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.
Convinced by the proposal of INEC, members of the joint committee in their separate remarks, assured the electoral body that the proposed sum will be appropriated for, in the 2025 fiscal election.
In her remarks, Senator Ireti Kingibe, Labour Party, FCT said “The situation at hand is not about looking for the N126 billion for INEC in the 2025 fiscal year but providing it. “
The joint committee thereafter, went into a closed-door session with the INEC Chairman and Federal Commissioners on how to source for the fund and appropriate it in the 2025 budget.
