The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has projected a total of N873.778 billion for the conduct of the 2027 general elections, while requesting N171 billion for its 2026 operational budget.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Thursday while presenting the Commission’s budget proposals before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters. He clarified that the nearly N874 billion earmarked for 2027 polls is separate from the 2026 budget, which covers routine operations, by-elections, and off-cycle polls.
The 2027 election budget is structured into five major components: N379.748 billion for operational expenses, N92.317 billion for administrative costs, N209.206 billion for technology, N154.905 billion for capital expenditure, and N42.608 billion for miscellaneous items.
The projection does not include a pending request by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for an upward review of allowances for corps members deployed as ad-hoc election staff.
On the 2026 budget, Amupitan said the Ministry of Finance issued a ceiling of N140 billion, but INEC is proposing N171 billion to meet obligations. The breakdown includes N109 billion for personnel costs, N18.7 billion for overheads, N42.63 billion for election-related activities, and N1.4 billion for capital projects.
Amupitan criticised the envelope budgeting system, noting it does not reflect INEC’s operational realities, which often demand urgent and flexible funding. He also stressed the need for a dedicated communications network to enhance transparency and enable accountability in case of technical failures.
Lawmakers at the session expressed concerns over funding mechanisms for the electoral body.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole called for the removal of the envelope system, while Rep. Billy Osawaru urged that INEC’s budget be placed on first-line charge to ensure timely releases for effective planning.
The Joint Committee approved a motion recommending a one-time release of INEC’s annual budget and indicated it would examine the NYSC’s separate request of about N32 billion to raise allowances for corps members to N125,000.
While assuring legislative backing, Rep. Bayo Balogun cautioned INEC against making commitments it may struggle to fulfil, citing previous controversies over the INEC Result Viewing (IREV) portal, which gave the impression of real-time results monitoring but was not included in the Electoral Act.
Senator Simon Lalong, Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, reiterated support for adequate funding to ensure effective preparation for the 2027 elections.
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