INEC Proposes 873 Billion Naira for 2027 Elections

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed a budget proposal of 873.778 billion Naira for the 2027 general elections during a presentation to the National Assembly's Joint Committee on Electoral Matters. This budget is distinct from INEC's proposed 171 billion Naira for the 2026 fiscal year, which covers routine operations and electoral activities.

Amupitan outlined the budget's components, including 379.748 billion Naira for operational expenses, 92.317 billion Naira for administrative costs, 209.206 billion Naira for technology, 154.905 billion Naira for capital expenditure, and 42.608 billion Naira for miscellaneous items. He criticized the envelope budget system for not aligning with INEC's operational realities.

The Senate Committee Chairman, Simon Lalong, assured support for INEC's preparations, while Mr. Bayo Balogun cautioned against overcommitting, referencing challenges from the last general elections. Additionally, the NYSC seeks a separate request of 32 billion Naira to deploy corps members as ad hoc electoral staff.