From David Onuoja, Abuja
The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has urged the Joint Committee on Electoral Matters of the National Assembly to increase the Commission’s budgetary allocation from N40b to N126b in order to prepare well for the electoral activities in 2025.
He made the appeal during a budget defense session at the National Assembly recently.
Due to the challenge it faced in 2024, the Commission Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, highlighted on the financial constraints INEC encountered, saying the N40 billion allocated to it was insufficient to cover anything beyond personnel costs and social contributions.
He explained how the allocation of last year left critical activities, such as the resumption of Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) and voter redistribution to polling units unfunded.
Related News
According to him, “all the funds allocated for 2024, the N40 billion was only enough to pay consolidated salaries, allowances, and statutory social contributions. Unfortunately, many operational activities had to be shelved.
“The Commission had to approach the executive for supplementary funding of N10.5 billion to conduct the Edo and Ondo governorship elections. However, this allocation still fell short of the Commission’s operational requirements, leaving several bye-elections unaddressed.
“We’ve conducted nine of the required bye-elections, but as of today, 11 bye-elections remain pending,” he noted.
On the 2025 budget proposal, he revealed that the funding envelope provided by the Ministry of Finance remains unchanged at N40 billion, the same allocation as 2024, despite rising operational costs.
“With a workforce of over 14,700 personnel, including 51 political officeholders, and the introduction of a new minimum wage, the N40 billion allocation cannot even cover personnel costs adequately.
To address these challenges and effectively plan for upcoming electoral activities, he said, INEC has proposed a budget of N126 billion for 2025. He listed key areas requiring immediate funding as off cycle elections, CVR and replacement of damaged materials.
On the upcoming off-cycle elections, the INEC Chairman noted that preparations for the Anambra, Ekiti and Osun governorship elections, and Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory would require significant financial input.
He said the resumption of the CVR would take place at over 8,800 centers nationwide to ensure that Nigerians who have come of age can register to vote.
While on damaged materials, Prof. Yakubu said the Commission must replace over 440 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines, ballot boxes, and voting cubicles lost to attacks and fires during past electoral exercises.
He revealed that insurance claims amounting to N205 million have been remitted to the federal treasury, leaving INEC to source replacement funds.
Yakibu observed that many of the over 860 facilities nationwide belonging to INEC, including 774 local government offices and 37 state offices also require urgent rehabilitation, just as he underscored the need for early planning for the next general election, entailing activities such as voter redistribution and procurement of essential materials.
Addressing the high cost of elections in Nigeria, the INEC Chairman proposed exploring sustainable funding mechanisms. He suggested that a percentage of the Federation Account allocation be dedicated to electoral activities, reducing the federal government’s exclusive burden.
He also advocated for legislative reforms to streamline bye-elections and minimize their financial and operational demands.
