INEC to get N18b to conduct Imo, Bayelsa, Kogi guber elections – FEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will get N18bn for the conduct of the Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi governorship elections.

Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, states that the electoral umpire will receive funding from the N2.1 trillion 2023 supplemental budget for the polls scheduled for November 11, 2023.

Following the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Monday, Bagudu gave a speech at the State House in Abuja, stating, “In addition, N18 billion was given to the Independent National Electoral Commission to assist them in conducting the elections in Bayelsa, Kogi, and Imo.”

He claimed that the supplemental budget was approved in order to deal with pressing matters.

He said FEC “approved the sum of N2,176,791,286,033 as supplementary budget and this supplementary budget is to fund urgent issues including N605 billion for national defence and security.

Read also: Don’t come to FEC meeting unless you’re invited, Tinubu warns

“This is to sustain the gains made in security and to accelerate and these are funds that are needed by the security agencies before the year runs out.”

“Equally the sum of N210 billion is provided for the payment of wage Awards. In negotiation with the Nigeria Labour Congress,” Bagudu added.

“The Federal Government agreed to pay N35,000 each to about 1.5 million employees of the Federal Government for September, October, November, and December 2023.

“And that amounts to about N210 billion which has been approved and also N400 billion as Cash Transfer payments.

“You may recall that the Federal Government secured a $800m loan from the World Bank to pay cash transfers of N25,000 to 15 million households. The $800 million is for two months: October and November. The President graciously approved that an additional month should be funded by the federal government and that is what this N100 billion is for.”