Скачать или смотреть INEC will need ₦126 billion to run its operations in 2025

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has announced that the commission will need ₦126 billion to run its operations in 2025. This figure significantly surpasses the ₦40 billion allocated to INEC in the proposed 2024 national budget presented to the National Assembly in December.

Professor Yakubu disclosed this while defending INEC’s budget before the joint committees on Electoral Matters of the Senate and the House of Representatives. He explained that conducting elections in Nigeria has become increasingly expensive due to the numerous off-cycle elections held throughout the year.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Hon. Bayo Balogun, praised the INEC Chairman for effectively utilizing the limited resources available to the commission. However, he emphasized the need for adequate funding to ensure INEC can remain truly independent and deliver on its mandate.

Similarly, Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the Federal Capital Territory in the Senate, and Hon. Paul Kalejaiye, a House member from Lagos, echoed the sentiment. Both legislators agreed that INEC requires proper funding to fulfill its responsibilities effectively.
The call for increased funding highlights the importance of ensuring free, fair, and credible elections in Nigeria, a task that requires substantial resources to achieve.