The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has projected a total of N873.778 billion for the conduct of the 2027 general elections, while requesting N171 billion for its 2026 operational budget.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Thursday during a presentation of the Commission’s budget proposals before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters. He clarified that the nearly N874 billion earmarked for the 2027 polls is separate from the 2026 budget, which covers routine operations, by-elections, and off-cycle polls.
The 2027 election budget is structured into five major components: N379.748 billion for operational expenses, N92.317 billion for administrative costs, N209.206 billion for technology, N154.905 billion for capital expenditure, and N42.608 billion for miscellaneous items.
This projection does not account for a pending request by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for an upward review of allowances for corps members deployed as ad-hoc election staff.
Regarding the 2026 budget, Amupitan noted that the Ministry of Finance set a ceiling of N140 billion; however, INEC is proposing N171 billion to meet its obligations. The breakdown includes N109 billion for personnel costs, N18.7 billion for overheads, N42.63 billion for election-related activities, and N1.4 billion for capital projects.
Amupitan criticized the envelope budgeting system, stating that it does not reflect INEC’s operational realities, which often require urgent and flexible funding. He also emphasized the necessity for a dedicated communications network to enhance transparency and enable accountability in case of technical failures.
Lawmakers at the session raised concerns regarding the funding mechanisms for the electoral body.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole advocated for the removal of the envelope system, while Rep. Billy Osawaru urged that INEC’s budget be placed on first-line charge to ensure timely releases for effective planning.
The Joint Committee approved a motion recommending a one-time release of INEC’s annual budget and indicated it would review the NYSC’s separate request of about N32 billion to raise allowances for corps members to N125,000.
While assuring legislative support, Rep. Bayo Balogun warned INEC against making commitments it may struggle to fulfill, citing prior controversies regarding the INEC Result Viewing (IREV) portal, which created the impression of real-time results monitoring but was not included in the Electoral Act.
Senator Simon Lalong, Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, reiterated the need for adequate funding to ensure effective preparation for the 2027 elections.
