The Federal Government allocated N313.4 billion to the Independent National Electoral Commission for the 2023 general elections, according to the commission’s report released on Friday.
The report said the amount was part of the N355 billion approved by the National Assembly for the elections, but only N313.4 billion was released as of September 2023.
The commission had proposed a budget of N305 billion for the elections, based on the key activities in the approved Election Project Plan.
The budget breakdown showed that N159.7 billion was for electoral operations; N117. 3 billion for electoral technology; and N20.4 billion for electoral administrative costs.
The commission also set aside N7.4 billion, representing 2.5 per cent of the total costs, for unforeseen electoral expenses.
The report stated that the commission’s budget proposal was submitted to the presidency and transmitted to the National Assembly in line with the 1999 Constitution.
“Consequently, the commission appeared before the Senate and House Committees on INEC as well as the Senate and House Appropriations Committee in a joint session during which the INEC Chairman presented the expenditure layout of the budget and answered all questions and queries from Committee members.
“The National Assembly approved and appropriated the sum of N303.1 billion for the conduct of the 2023 general election,” it stated.
However, the report stated that by January 2023, the commission realised that the approved amount was insufficient for the election due to the inflation rate and consumer price index as well as the widening differentials in the foreign exchange rate.
