2027 elections: INEC proposes N873.78bn to national assembly …says funding gaps may affect preparation

INEC to n’assembly: N873.78bn needed for 2027 elections… funding gaps may affect preparations

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has proposed N873.78 billion for the conduct of the 2027 general election, warning that funding constraints could undermine its preparations for the polls.

While presenting the commission’s 2026 budget proposal and projected cost for the 2027 elections before the national assembly joint committee on electoral matters in Abuja on Thursday, Joash Amupitan, INEC chairman, said the commission is also proposing N171 billion for its 2026 operations.

He said the N171 billion would cover routine activities, including bye-elections and off-cycle governorship polls.

Giving a breakdown of the projected N873.78 billion cost for 2027 elections, Amupitan said N379.75 billion is earmarked for operational expenses, N92.32 billion for administrative costs, N209.21 billion for technological expenses, N154.91 billion for election capital costs, and N42.61 billion for miscellaneous items.

He said the estimate was prepared in compliance with section 3(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, which requires the commission to submit its election budget at least one year before a general election.

On the 2026 proposal, Amupitan said the federal ministry of finance provided an envelope of N140 billion, while INEC’s total requirement stands at N171 billion.

He said the N171 billion proposal includes N109 billion for personnel costs, N18.7 billion for overheads, N42.63 billion for election-related activities, and N1.4 billion for capital expenditure.

Amupitan

The INEC chairman argued that the envelope budgeting model is not suitable for the commission’s operations.

“INEC requires flexible and timely funding to effectively discharge its constitutional responsibilities,” Amupitan said.

“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.”

The joint committee subsequently approved a motion recommending the one-time release of the commission’s annual budget.

The committee also indicated it would consider the National Youth Service Corps’ (NYSC) request for about N32 billion to increase allowances for corps members engaged in election duties to N125,000.

Simon Lalong, chairman of the senate committee on INEC, assured that the national assembly would collaborate with the commission to ensure adequate support for the 2027 elections.

Bayo Balogun, chairman of the house committee on electoral matters, pledged legislative backing but cautioned the commission against making promises it may not be able to fulfil.

“iREV was not even in the Electoral Act; it was only in INEC regulations. So, be careful how you make promises,” Balogun said.

The N873.78 billion proposed for the 2027 general election represents a sharp increase compared to the N313.4 billion released by the federal government for the 2023 polls.

The national assembly approved N355.3 billion for the elections, but INEC said it received N313.4 billion from the federal government to conduct the elections.