The Independent National Election (INEC) has proposed a budget of N873.78 billion for the 2027 general elections raising fears that funding shortfalls could disrupt preparations.
Chairman of INEC Professor Joash Amupitan stated this on Thursday in a presentation to the National Assembly, where he said total estimate covers five key areas.
He said N379.75 billion is for operations, N92.32 billion for administration, N209.21 billion for technology, N154.91 billion for election capital costs, and N42.61 billion for miscellaneous expenses.
Professor Amupitan presented this before the Joint Committee on Electoral Matters in Abuja, stressing compliance with the Electoral Act 2022’s requirement for early budgeting.
INEC requires flexible and timely funding to effectively discharge its constitutional responsibilities,” Amupitan said.
He continued that “The absence of a dedicated communications network remains a major operational challenge for the commission.
“Establishing an independent network infrastructure will enhance transparency and enable Nigerians to better hold the commission accountable for any technical failures during elections.”
NewsQuest reports that the budget marks a sharp rise from the N313.4 billion released for the 2023 elections.
INEC is also seeking N171 billion for 2026 operations, exceeding the Ministry of Finance’s N140 billion envelope, which includes personnel (N109 billion), overheads (N18.7 billion), election activities (N42.63 billion), and capital (N1.4 billion).
The proposal excludes extra NYSC allowances for ad-hoc staff, potentially adding N32 billion if approved at N125,000 per corps member.
The National Assembly has already pledged support, including first-line charge budgeting and timely releases.
