INEC Needs N126Bn In 2025-Prof. Yakubu
By Juliet Vincent
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu has stated that, the Commission would need N126 billion in 2025 to finance its activities and prepare for the 2027 general elections.
He stated this on Friday while speaking at the 2025 budget defence session before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters.
He said the N40 billion being proposed for the Commission in the 2025 budget will not be enough to cover its activities, including salaries and allowances for the year in view of the recent increase in minimum wage.
According to him, the commission was also allocated the same N40 billion in 2024 which he said, only covered salaries and some social contributions such as NHIS contributions, pension, ITF among others.
Professor Yakubu said, “we complained about the allocations and you asked what we thought would be adequate. We made a proposal of N80 billion then. We are aware that you made efforts to ensure an increase, but that did not work.
“On our part, we made efforts and approached the Executive for more funds and we were able to get about N10.5 billion from the Executive to take care of the Edo and Ondo Governorship elections. That was why we were aable to conduct those elections and come out successful.”
The INEC Chairman said the year 2025 was a very critical year for the Commission, saying “we have the Anambra governorship election coming up later in the year.
“Provision for preparation for that election is not in the budget. We must prepare for the conduct of the Area Council elections scheduled for February 2026 and the budget for that election is not in this budget.
“We must monitor party primaries for these elections, including the conduct of bye elections and the budget for that is not in the current budget.
“Also, we must begin preparation for the 2027 general elections this year. We have not commenced the Continous Voter Registration exercise because of lack of money. We have to start this year and end it in 2026.
“we must also begin redistribution of voters to polling units from those that are over populated. All these activities cost money and that has not been considered in this budget”.
Prof. Yakubu also said that the Commission has about 11 bye elections to be conducte this year both in the National and state Houses of Assembly as a result of death and resignation.
He noted that, the Commission was able to secure N500 for the by-elections and other purpose, but the money wont be enough to cover the cost of the elections.
He argued that despite the changes in the cost of activities in the country, the Commission is still being allocated N40 billion without consideration of the increase in Minimum wage, saying the Commission currently has one of the largest workforce in the country of over 14,700 staff outside the political appointees in the commission.
He said the political appointees in the commission include the Chairman and 12 National Commissioners, 37 Resident Electoral Commissioners their aides who draws salaries and allowances from the funds of the commission.
He also said that the Commission has over 850 building across the country in dire need of renovation as well as offices in the 8809 wards, 774 local government, 37 state offices as well as the nationa headquarters and various stores which has to be taken care of rom the budget.
He also disclosed that currently, there are still 59 local government offices located in Local Government Headquarters which it planned to relocate, adding that isthe budget of N126 billion in approved, the commission is targetting the relocation of at least 30 of them in 2025.
The INEC Chairman also disclosed that the Commission planned to replace some of its items such as BVAS machines, voting cubiciles and other materials, adding that between the conduct of the 2023 general election and now, the commission has lost about 440 BVAS machines, but was quick to add that the Commission has however collected insurance premium of about N205 million for the damaged BVAS.
He said, “That money was not paid directly to the Commision. It was paid directy to government coffers”.
In her observation after the INEC Chairman’s presentation, Senator Ireti Kingible said the National Assembly must look for ways to fund INEC in order to discharge its responsibilities and save the nation’s democracy.
She said, “INEC has to be independent and whatever we have to do to get funding for the commission must be done. It is not whether the commission will get the money. It has to get the money needed”.
Similarly, Rep. Adeboye Paul said that, the Electoral body is being deprived of necessary funding which he said is a big threat to the nation’s democracy.
He said, “From what we are seeing, it s clear that we are running a dangerous system. We are all participants in the electoral process and we know what goes on. When there are shortfall, the local government comes in to supplement and that is dangerous for the system.
“If the essence of budget defence is that we cannot make input, why then do we embark on the exercise. Last year, we were here in this same situation and we made efforts to improve the budget to no avail. We need to deliberate on how best to assist the commission aand save our democracy.
“If we allow them to continue going cap in hand to the Executive for funds, that is not good for democracy in this country”.
