INEC SEEKS N873.78BN FOR 2027 GENERAL ELECTIONS, PROPOSES N171BN FOR 2026 OPERATIONS

INEC SEEKS N873.78BN FOR 2027 GENERAL ELECTIONS, PROPOSES N171BN FOR 2026 OPERATIONS


The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has proposed a total of N873.78 billion for the conduct of the 2027 general elections, while also seeking N171 billion to fund its operations in the 2026 fiscal year.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Thursday while presenting the Commission’s 2026 budget proposal and projected 2027 election cost before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters in Abuja.

According to Amupitan, the N873.78 billion proposal is intended to cover the full conduct of national elections in 2027. The additional N171 billion would fund routine activities in 2026, including bye-elections and off-cycle polls.

He clarified that the projected election budget does not include a fresh request from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), which is seeking an increase in allowances for corps members engaged as ad-hoc staff during elections.

Providing a breakdown of the proposed 2027 election budget, the INEC Chairman stated that the nearly N1 trillion estimate is structured across five major components:

N379.75 billion for operational costs

N92.32 billion for administrative costs

N209.21 billion for technological costs

N154.91 billion for election capital costs

N42.61 billion for miscellaneous expenses

Amupitan explained that the budget was prepared in compliance with Section 3(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, which mandates the Commission to prepare its election budget at least one year before a general election.

For the 2026 fiscal year, he noted that the Ministry of Finance had provided an initial budget envelope of N140 billion, but INEC is proposing a total expenditure of N171 billion. The breakdown includes:

N109 billion for personnel costs

N18.7 billion for overhead expenses

N42.63 billion for election-related activities

N1.4 billion for capital expenditure

Amupitan argued that the envelope budgeting system may not adequately address the Commission’s operational realities, noting that electoral activities often require urgent and flexible funding.

He also identified the absence of a dedicated communications network as a significant operational challenge. According to him, developing an independent communications infrastructure would enhance operational efficiency and improve public accountability, particularly in addressing technical issues.

During the session, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) stated that external agencies should not dictate INEC’s budgeting framework, given the sensitive and unique nature of its constitutional mandate. He advocated reconsidering the envelope budgeting model to prevent potential underfunding.

Similarly, Hon. Billy Osawaru, a member of the House of Representatives from Edo State, called for INEC’s budget to be placed on first-line charge as provided in the Constitution, with funds released fully and promptly to enable early preparations for the 2027 elections.

The Joint Committee approved a motion recommending the one-time release of the Commission’s annual budget. Lawmakers also indicated that they would consider the NYSC’s request for approximately N32 billion to increase allowances for corps members to N125,000 each when deployed for election duties.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, Senator Simon Along, assured that the National Assembly would work closely with the Commission to provide the necessary legislative support for the successful conduct of the 2027 elections.

In a related remark, the Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Bayo Balogun, advised INEC to exercise caution in making public commitments. He referenced the 2023 general elections, noting that assurances regarding the uploading of results to the INEC Result Viewing (iREV) portal created public expectations of real-time monitoring.

Balogun emphasized that while transparency initiatives are important, the Commission should ensure that its promises align with existing legal frameworks and operational capacity.

The proposed N873.78 billion budget for the 2027 general elections represents a significant increase compared to the N313.4 billion reportedly released for the conduct of the 2023 general elections.

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