The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has proposed N873.78 billion for the conduct of the 2027 general elections, formally kick-starting preparations for the nationwide exercise.
Chairman of INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan, presented the proposal before the joint committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Electoral Matters at the National Assembly on Thursday. He explained that the proposed election budget is separate from the Commission’s 2026 fiscal plan.
Prof. Amupitan disclosed that INEC is seeking N171 billion for its 2026 operations, which would cover routine activities including by-elections and off-cycle governorship polls.
He noted that the Ministry of Finance issued a budget envelope of N140 billion, but the Commission requires additional funding to meet its statutory obligations.
The proposed 2026 breakdown includes:
- N109 billion – Personnel costs
- N18.7 billion – Overheads
- N42.63 billion – Election-related activities
- N1.4 billion – Capital expenditure
According to the INEC Chairman, the N873.778 billion proposed for 2027 is structured under five major components:
- N379.748 billion – Operational costs
- N92.317 billion – Administrative expenses
- N209.206 billion – Technology deployment
- N154.905 billion – Election capital expenditure
- N42.608 billion – Miscellaneous costs
He explained that the higher capital allocation reflects consolidation of items not fully captured in previous election cycles
Citing Section 3(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, Prof. Amupitan stressed that election funds must be appropriated at least 360 days before the general election, emphasizing that early approval would ensure meticulous planning and seamless execution.
He also identified the absence of a dedicated communications network as a major operational challenge, suggesting that developing an independent infrastructure would strengthen transparency and accountability.
During the session chaired by Senator Simon Bako Lalong and Hon. Adebayo Balogun, lawmakers expressed support for adequate funding of the Commission.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) argued that external agencies should not dictate INEC’s budgeting structure, urging Parliament to align funding with the Commission’s constitutional mandate.
Similarly, Hon. Billy Osawaru advocated placing INEC’s budget on first-line charge, as provided by the Constitution, to guarantee timely releases.
The Joint Committee approved a motion recommending the one-time release of INEC’s annual allocation.
The INEC boss clarified that the election budget does not include a fresh request by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for an upward review of Corps members’ election duty allowances. Lawmakers indicated they would consider a separate request of about N32 billion to raise allowances to N125,000 per engagement.
While assuring collaboration with INEC, Hon. Adebayo Balogun cautioned the Commission against making commitments it may struggle to fulfill. He referenced expectations surrounding the uploading of results to the INEC Result Viewing (IREV) portal during the last elections, noting that such commitments must align strictly with statutory provisions.
The National Assembly is expected to further deliberate on the proposals as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections.
