The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has presented budget proposals totaling N873.778 billion for the 2027 general elections and N171 billion for its 2026 operational activities.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, made the disclosure on Thursday during a presentation to the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters, emphasizing that the two budgets serve distinct purposes.
The 2027 election budget comprises five key segments: operations (N379.748bn), administration (N92.317bn), technology (N209.206bn), capital expenditure (N154.905bn), and miscellaneous expenses (N42.608bn). Notably, this figure excludes a pending National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) request for increased allowances for corps members serving as ad-hoc election staff.
For 2026, the Finance Ministry set a budget ceiling of N140 billion, though INEC is requesting N171 billion to adequately cover its commitments. This breaks down into personnel costs (N109bn), overheads (N18.7bn), election activities including by-elections and off-cycle polls (N42.63bn), and capital projects (N1.4bn).
Prof. Amupitan criticized the current envelope budgeting system, arguing it fails to accommodate INEC’s operational demands, which frequently require urgent and flexible funding. He also highlighted the necessity of establishing a dedicated communications network to improve transparency and facilitate accountability during technical challenges.
During the session, lawmakers raised concerns about INEC’s funding structure. Senator Adams Oshiomhole advocated for eliminating the envelope system, while Rep. Billy Osawaru proposed placing INEC’s budget on first-line charge to guarantee timely fund releases and enable better planning.
The Joint Committee passed a motion recommending one-time annual budget releases for INEC and announced plans to review NYSC’s separate N32 billion request to raise corps member allowances to N125,000.
While pledging legislative support, Rep. Bayo Balogun urged INEC to avoid overpromising, referencing past controversies surrounding the INEC Result Viewing (IREV) portal, which created expectations of real-time result monitoring despite not being mandated by the Electoral Act.
Senate Committee Chairman on INEC, Senator Simon Lalong, reaffirmed lawmakers’ commitment to ensuring adequate funding for effective preparation toward the 2027 elections.
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