The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has rejected the sum of 40 billion naira earmarked for it as 2025 budget estimates.
TREND REPORTERS gathered that INEC’s chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu made the rejection of the N40b yearly budget envelope for the commission to the National Assembly joint committee during budget defense session.
The electoral body, however, got approval for the sum of 126 billion naira it proposed to the legislative chamber through its joint committee on INEC and Electoral Matters.
In his presentation before the joint committee chaired by Senator Sarafadeen Alli, Professor Yakubu said elections in Nigeria have become huge burden requiring adequate funding.
He argued that the N40billion budget envelope given for 2025 will not cover 1/3 of projected expenses which totally amounts to over N126billion.
The INEC chairman further said the inadequacy of the N40billion budget envelope made the commission to get intervention funds of N10.5billion for Edo and Ondo elections in 2024 and another N500million for bye-elections on affected constituencies.
Meanwhile, members of the joint committee have assured the electoral body that the proposed sum shall be appropriated for in the 2025 budget.
