Budget Presentation and Defense
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has put forward a budget request of N126 billion for the year 2025. This was announced by INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, during a session defending the 2024 budget implementation to the National Assembly.
Call for Increased Funding
Prof Yakubu urged the lawmakers to approve this budget, which is almost triple the allocation from the previous year. He stressed the necessity of this funding to fulfill INEC’s constitutional obligations, saying, “Our proposal for 2025; the Commission requires the sum of N126 billion. So, we will like the support of the National Assembly members to ensure that we are adequately funded for the responsibilities we are required to discharge.”
The Burden of Election Costs
The INEC Chairman pointed out the significant financial challenges associated with conducting elections in Nigeria, labeling them as “exorbitant and burdensome.” Despite being one of Nigeria’s largest employers, INEC had to manage with a budget of only N40 billion last year, far less than the N80 billion initially sought. This underfunding has considerably hampered the commission’s operational capabilities.
Advocating for Collaborative Solutions
In response to these challenges, Prof Yakubu suggested organizing a retreat to foster collaboration between the legislative body and INEC. This would serve as a platform to discuss and resolve the ongoing issues plaguing the electoral process. He remarked, “We need a major conversation, the commission cannot continue conducting election all year round.”
Infrastructure Concerns
Furthermore, Yakubu highlighted the poor condition of INEC’s physical infrastructure, with 860 buildings across the nation requiring urgent repairs. This aspect of INEC’s needs underscores the broader call for increased budgetary support to maintain and enhance the commission’s operational capacity ahead of future electoral events.
