INEC seeks N873.7bn for 2027 polls, N1.71bn for operations

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has presented a proposed budget of N873.78 billion for the conduct of the 2027 general elections, as the Senate pledged to amend the Electoral Act ahead of the polls to accommodate electronic transmission of results.

Presenting the proposal before the Joint Committee of the National Assembly on Electoral Matters in Abuja, Joash Amupitan, Professor and INEC Chairman, said preparations for the 2027 elections had already commenced in line with statutory requirements.

“The reform of the Electoral Act will go by 2027. And so, it will go by 2027 and the preparation for that election has already started,” Amupitan said.

He added, “If you want to predict the future, it is necessary to create it early on time. That is the reason why, in the wisdom of the National Assembly, it was decided years back that the appropriation for the general election should be made 360 days before the date for the election.”

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Amupitan said the proposed N873.78 billion, submitted pursuant to Section 3(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, was broken into four major components: N375.75 billion for election operations; N92.31 billion for administrative costs; N209.21 billion for technology; and N154.90 billion for capital expenditure. An additional N41.61 billion was earmarked for miscellaneous expenses.

“The total proposed budget for the general election is the sum of N873,778,401,602.08,” he stated.

Under the technology component, INEC budgeted N1.215 billion for the Hybrid e-EC8A and Result Management System (RMS), N162.5 million for related upgrades, and N12.29 billion for the printing of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

Amupitan noted that most capital items were captured under the 2027 election budget, explaining the comparatively lower capital allocation in the commission’s 2026 statutory proposal.

For 2026, INEC proposed N171.9 billion against a N140 billion envelope provided by the Ministry of Finance.

The breakdown includes N109.07 billion for personnel costs, N18.74 billion for overheads, N42.63 billion for electoral activities, and N1.4 billion for capital expenditure.

He argued that the envelope budgeting system constrains the Commission’s work.

“The envelope system is not helping us,” he said, adding that INEC lacks an independent communications network.

“We don’t have a network of our own, though INEC should be held responsible for anything that happens.”

He stressed that election logistics and payment of ad hoc staff require substantial resources nationwide. “The cost for the payment of ad hoc staff is a lot of money and we have to do that across the nation.”

On the proposal by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) seeking about N32 billion to increase allowances for corps members deployed for election duties, lawmakers said the request would be scrutinised.

Bayo Balogun, House of Representatives’ Committee Chairman told INEC that they had received complaint from the National Youth Service Corps, stating that the allowances for the Youth Corp members were too meager, making them susceptible to being used by politicians to corrupt the election process.

He explained that the proposal amounts to about N127,000 per corps member for five days, covering training and election duty allowances, with a projected 450,000 corps members to be engaged.

“We’ll look at the proposal for the increase of corps members’ allowances critically,” the lawmaker said.

During the session, Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) opposed the application of the envelope system to INEC, citing the sensitive nature of its mandate.

“I do not think it would be right for people outside INEC, including the Ministry of Finance, to extend the principle of the envelope system to INEC,” Oshiomhole said.

He warned against underfunding the commission, recalling past elections that were postponed due to logistical setbacks.

“I don’t want us to reduce anything INEC has asked for. In return, Nigerians will not tolerate excuses,” he said.

“The envelope system should be set aside and allow what items they need to be prepared so that in return, they will have no excuse to Nigerians.”

Tokunbo Abiru (APC Senator, Lagos East) asked the Commission to reconcile disparities between its N171.9 billion proposal and the N140 billion ceiling, particularly in allocations for the conduct of elections and electoral administration.

“Have you sat down with them to convince them as to the importance of this sensitive area?” Abiru queried, referring to discussions with the finance authorities.

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Billy Osawaru, a member of the House of Representatives, supported placing INEC’s statutory allocation on first-line charge.

“This National Assembly is a citadel of democracy. Any resources required by them to execute any election must be done adequately and in full,” he said.

Moses Fayinka, House of Representatives’ member representing Mushin II Federal Constituency of Lagos State, raised concerns over a N630 million line item for annual medical check-ups for political office holders in the 2026 proposal, asking the commission to clarify the provision.

Lawmakers also questioned provisions for 130,000 ballot boxes against Nigeria’s 176,846 polling units, as well as plans to redesign voting booths and procure additional communication gadgets.

Responding, Amupitan said the Commission conducted a nationwide audit of ballot boxes.

“We have taken an audit of the available ballot boxes across the nation. So we didn’t just want to condemn everyone. Those that are still usable, we have kept them. That is why it is only about 130,000 against 176,000,” he explained.

On the redesign of voting cubicles, he said the move was aimed at curbing vote-buying and protecting ballot secrecy.

“If we have a voting booth that will allow you to do your voting and put it the ballot boxes immediately, the situation where somebody will vote and come out and show it to anybody as confirmation will not arise,” Amupitan said.

On communication gaps, lawmakers urged the commission to consider long-range walkie-talkies for presiding officers in rural areas with weak network coverage.

At the close of the session, lawmakers assured the commission of legislative support, including reforms to strengthen electronic transmission of results before the 2027 elections.

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Simon Lalong, the Chairman of the Committee, assured Amupitan that the Committee would immediately look into the budget and ensure they do the right thing for the electoral umpire.

“We’ll look into it. It is not INEC that will not determine the cost. The committee will look at the issue critically,” he said.