The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has proposed the sum of N305B as projected expenditure for the conduct of the 2023 general elections.
The Chairman of INEC, Professor Mahmud Yakubu made the Submissions before the Senate Committee on Appropriations on Monday in Abuja
The Committee had invited INEC to make clarifications on the agency’s projected expenditure for 2023 general election in order to accommodate the modification, in
the 2022 appropriation bill scheduled for passage by the national assembly on Tuesday December 21 2021
According to INEC Chairman, the N305billion is specifically for the 2023 general election while the N40biilion is the yearly budget of the electoral body.
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He said though N100billion had been given as first tranche to the Commission, out of the total projected expenses but would not be enough for adequate preparation.
He added that in the N40b for the agency ‘s annual budget includes off season elections, and INEC has scheduled 8 bye-elections , three Federal constituencies and five State constituencies with the latest vacancy arising from the death of a member representing Jiwa West in Kaduna State
In making case for more releases from the N305billion outstanding, the INEC boss highlighted some activities that must be concluded ahead of the 2023 general elections , which includes registration of voters, critical technology procurement , replacement of ballot boxes , voting cubicles, printing of permanent voters cards
Others include Payment of adhoc staff, party primaries,
transportation logistics, election petition tribunals, run-off elections after declarations, and litigation services.
On Ekiti East bye election, the INEC boss said it has been suspended indefinitely having tried four times without success.
He lamented that in the last attempt, voters were killed on the queue as well as security operatives and electoral officers at polling units.
Professor Yakubu also appealed to the lawmakers for a constitutional amendment restricting lawmakers elected to a particular assembly, to be tied to serve till the end of the assembly
He added that , By court order a member of house of representative was declared winner of cross river north senatorial bye election , creating a vacancy in ogoja federal constituency , which led to mobilizing to conduct election in the affect constituencies
He said in some cases leds to conducting three elections
In his remarks, the Chairman of the committee, Senator Jibrin Barau , said required appropriation would be made for the electoral body in the 2022 budget in the general interest of Nigerians .
He assured that report of his committee on 2022 budget proposals, will be laid in plenary at both Chambers on Tuesday, considered and passed.
( Editor: Omor Bazuaye )
