The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has requested a significant increase in its budgetary allocation to N126 billion for the 2025 fiscal year. This amount is substantially higher than the N40 billion initially earmarked for the commission in the 2025 budget estimates.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made the request during a budget defense session at the National Assembly in Abuja. Yakubu emphasized that elections in Nigeria have become a massive burden, requiring adequate funding to ensure their success. He noted that the initial N40 billion allocation would not cover even a third of the commission’s projected expenses, which total over N126 billion.
The INEC chairman highlighted several factors contributing to the increased budget requirement, including the need to conduct off-cycle elections for 21 constituencies, the Anambra Governorship election, and the implementation of the new minimum wage, which would gulp the entire N40 billion allocation.
Yakubu assured that the commission has a detailed document outlining how the proposed N126 billion would be spent. He appealed to the National Assembly for support in securing the required funding, emphasizing that most of the commission’s responsibilities are constitutional.
Members of the committee, including Sen. Ireti Kingibe, expressed their commitment to appropriating the proposed sum in the 2025 fiscal year. The committee subsequently went into a closed-door session to discuss how to source the funds and ensure their appropriation in the 2025 budget.
