Amupitan Seeks N1.04tr for Elections, INEC Operations

The Federal Government could allocate as much as N1.04 trillion to cover off-cycle polls, preparations for the 2027 general election and the operational expenses of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), pending approval by the National Assembly.

The funding request was presented by INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, during his appearance before the Joint Committee of the National Assembly on Electoral Matters, where he defended the commission’s proposed budget.

Amupitan appealed to lawmakers to approve the estimates and ensure that funds are released promptly and in full, cautioning that any delay could disrupt preparations for forthcoming elections.

A breakdown of the proposal shows that N873.778 billion is earmarked for the 2027 general election, while N171 billion is projected for the commission’s 2026 activities, including several off-cycle elections scheduled for this year.

He explained that the 2026 operational allocation would fund the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council polls, by-elections set for next week, and the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections scheduled for June and September.

READ ALSO: Natasha Akpoti Walks Out of Senate Committee Session After Clash With Chair During Steel Budget Defence

Providing further details, the INEC chairman said the N873.778 billion proposed for the 2027 polls would be distributed as follows: N379.748 billion for operational expenses, N92.317 billion for administrative costs, N209.206 billion for technology, N154.905 billion for capital expenditure related to elections, and N42.608 billion for miscellaneous items.

For 2026, he said N109 billion is projected for personnel costs, N18.7 billion for overheads, N42.63 billion for election-related activities and N1.4 billion for capital projects.

Amupitan noted that the election budget was prepared in accordance with Section 3(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, which mandates that funding proposals for general elections be submitted at least one year in advance.

He criticised the envelope budgeting system, describing it as incompatible with INEC’s responsibilities, which often require swift financial intervention. “The nature of our work demands prompt access to funds,” he said, urging the immediate disbursement of approved allocations.

The chairman also pointed to the absence of a dedicated communication network as a major operational gap, arguing that establishing an independent system would strengthen transparency and accountability. “If we have our own network, Nigerians can hold us responsible for any hitch,” he said.

Lawmakers responded to the presentation with assurances and suggestions. Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) maintained that no government agency should impose restrictive budgeting methods on INEC, given the sensitive and strategic nature of its mandate. He advocated setting aside the envelope system for the commission to prevent operational setbacks.

Under the envelope budgeting model, once funds assigned to a particular category are exhausted, spending in that category stops—even if resources remain available elsewhere.

Billy Osawaru, a member of the House of Representatives from Edo State, argued that INEC’s budget should be placed on first-line charge, as stipulated by the Constitution, to enable the commission to access its full allocation at once for effective planning and execution.

After deliberations, the joint committee adopted a motion recommending a one-time release of INEC’s yearly budget. It also agreed to review the commission’s request for increased allowances for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members deployed for election duties. The proposal, estimated at N32 billion, would provide N125,000 per corps member.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, Senator Simon Lalong, assured INEC of legislative backing, pledging collaboration to ensure that all prerequisites for the 2027 general election are fulfilled.

Similarly, Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Bayo Balogun, promised the commission the support of lawmakers but warned against overpromising.

He referenced assurances made by a previous INEC leadership regarding real-time uploads to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV). “The last INEC made it look as if Nigerians would be watching election results on IREV like television,” Balogun said.

“Meanwhile, IREV was not even provided for in the Electoral Act but only in INEC regulations.

“So, be careful how you make promises.”