Citing the insufficiency of the existing money to satisfy operational demands, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has urged for a major increase in the Commission’s 2025 budget allocation.
Prof. Yakubu described the difficulties encountered in the 2024 fiscal year and the financial needs for the following year at a budget defense session with the Joint Committee on Electoral Matters at the National Assembly on Friday, January 10, 2025.
According to Prof. Yakubu, the Commission was given N40 billion in 2024, which he said was hardly enough to pay for statutory contributions and personnel expenses.
“While we received 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,” he said.
He stated: “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.”
The Commission also requested supplemental funding of N10.5 billion to conduct the Edo and Ondo governorship elections, but this allocation fell short, leaving 11 bye-elections pending. Important activities like Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) and voter redistribution to polling units were left unfunded.
“INEC has proposed a budget of N126 billion for 2025 to address these challenges and effectively plan for upcoming electoral activities,” he said. Prof. Yakubu mentioned several important issues that need urgent support, including CVR, off-cycle elections, and replacing damaged materials.
Regarding the off-cycle elections, the INEC Chairman pointed out that substantial financial support will be needed to prepare for the elections for the Federal Capital Territory’s Area Council, Anambra, and Ekiti and Osun governorships.
In order to guarantee that Nigerians who have reached voting age can register to vote, he said the CVR would resume at more than 8,800 locations around the country.
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