The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday informed the National Assembly that it requires N873.78 billion to conduct the 2027 general elections, alongside a proposed N171 billion for its operational expenses in the 2026 fiscal year.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, made the disclosure while presenting the commission’s 2026 budget and the projected cost of next year’s polls before the Joint Committee on Electoral Matters in Abuja.
Amupitan explained that the N873.78 billion election budget is intended to cover the full conduct of national elections in 2027, while the N171 billion would support INEC’s routine activities in 2026, including bye-elections and off-season polls.
He noted that the proposed election budget does not yet account for a fresh request from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) seeking higher allowances for corps members engaged as ad-hoc staff during elections.
The INEC Chairman outlined that the near N1 trillion election budget is divided into five key areas: N379.75 billion for operational costs, N92.32 billion for administrative expenses, N209.21 billion for technological needs, N154.91 billion for election capital costs, and N42.61 billion for miscellaneous items.
Amupitan stated that the budget aligns with Section 3(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, which requires the Commission to prepare its election budget at least one year before a general election.
Regarding the 2026 fiscal year, he said the Ministry of Finance had allocated N140 billion, though INEC is proposing a total expenditure of N171 billion.
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 expenditure.
The chairman also highlighted operational challenges, particularly the lack of a dedicated communications network.
He argued that developing its own network would allow Nigerians to hold the commission accountable for any technical glitches.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) stressed that external agencies should not dictate INEC’s budgeting framework, given the Commission’s unique mandate, and called for the envelope budgeting model to be set aside.
Billy Osawaru, a House member from Edo State, urged that INEC’s budget be placed on first-line charge as enshrined in the Constitution, ensuring full and timely release to enable early election planning.
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The Joint Committee subsequently recommended a one-time release of the Commission’s annual budget and said it would consider the NYSC’s request for about N32 billion to increase allowances for corps members to N125,000 each during election duties.
Senator Simon Along, Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, assured that the National Assembly would work with the Commission to ensure it has the resources to conduct successful elections.
Similarly, House Committee Chairman Bayo Balogun pledged legislative support but cautioned INEC against making promises it cannot fulfil, citing the 2023 general election scenario where the INEC Result Viewing (iREV) portal was oversold.
The proposed N873.78 billion for the 2027 polls marks a significant rise from the N313.4 billion released for the 2023 general elections.
