By Paul Joseph
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has put forward a proposal for N873.78 billion to conduct the general elections in 2027, along with an additional N171 billion to support its operations in 2026.
During a presentation to the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters in Abuja on Thursday, INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan outlined the commission’s budget proposal for 2026 and the anticipated costs for the 2027 elections.
Amupitan stated that the N873.78 billion is intended to fully fund the national elections in 2027, while the N171 billion for 2026 will cover routine activities such as bye-elections and off-season elections.
He noted that this proposed election budget does not account for a separate request from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for increased allowances for corps members who serve as temporary staff during elections.
Breaking down the N873.78 billion projected for the 2027 elections, Amupitan indicated that N379.75 billion is allocated for operational expenses, N92.32 billion for administrative costs, N209.21 billion for technological investments, N154.91 billion for capital expenditures related to elections, and N42.61 billion for miscellaneous expenses.
He explained that the budget was prepared in accordance with Section 3(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, which mandates that the commission must prepare its election budget at least one year prior to a general election.
Regarding the 2026 fiscal year proposal, Amupitan mentioned that the Ministry of Finance has provided a budget envelope of N140 billion, but INEC is proposing total expenditures of N171 billion. This includes N109 billion for personnel costs, N18.7 billion for overheads, N42.63 billion for election-related activities, and N1.4 billion for capital expenditures.
The INEC chairman argued that the envelope budgeting system does not adequately meet the commission’s operational needs, emphasizing that its activities often require urgent and flexible funding. He also highlighted the absence of a dedicated communications network as a significant challenge, stating that having its own infrastructure would enhance accountability in the event of technical issues.
During the session, Senator Adams Oshiomhole remarked that external agencies should not dictate INEC’s budgeting framework due to the sensitive nature of its responsibilities. He urged the National Assembly to collaborate with the commission’s proposal to avoid underfunding.
Similarly, House of Representatives member Billy Osawaru advocated for INEC’s budget to be prioritized as a first-line charge, as stipulated in the Constitution, ensuring timely and full release of funds for effective planning ahead of the 2027 elections.
The joint committee approved a motion recommending the one-time release of the commission’s annual budget and stated it would consider the NYSC’s request for approximately N32 billion to raise allowances for corps members to N125,000 each when they are engaged in election duties.
Senator Simon Along, Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, assured that the National Assembly would support the commission to facilitate a successful election process.
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