The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has proposed a budget of N873.78 billion for the conduct of the 2027 general elections, with significant allocations to election operations, technology and capital expenditure.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, presented the proposal today before the joint committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Electoral Matters at the National Assembly, reports The Guardian.
He clarified that the N873.778 billion required for the 2027 polls is separate from the Commission’s 2026 budget proposal, in which INEC plans to spend N171 billion on its operations, including the conduct of by-elections and off-cycle elections.
He said preparations for the polls had commenced in line with statutory provisions requiring that election funds be appropriated at least 360 days before the date fixed for the exercise.
Amupitan explained that early appropriation would ensure proper planning and seamless nationwide conduct of the elections.
He explained that although details of specific line items were not exhaustively presented, the nearly N1 trillion election budget is structured across five major components: N379.748 billion for operational costs; N92.317 billion for administrative costs; N209.206 billion for technological costs; N154.905 billion for election capital costs; and N42.608 billion for miscellaneous expenses.
The INEC chairman noted that the capital component was higher than in previous budgets because several capital items that had not been adequately captured in earlier appropriations had now been consolidated into the 2027 election budget.
He provided detailed budget codes for each category and said further explanations of the proposed expenditure were contained in the documents submitted to the committee.
The joint session was chaired by Senator Simon Bako Lalong and Hon. Adebayo Balogun.
According to Prof. Amupitan, the projected election budget does not include a fresh proposal by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) seeking an increase in allowances for Corps members serving as ad hoc staff during elections.
The INEC chairman noted that the budget was prepared in line with Section 3(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, which mandates the Commission to prepare its election budget at least one year before the general election.
On the 2026 fiscal year, Prof. Amupitan said the Ministry of Finance provided the Commission with a budget envelope of N140 billion.
However, 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.
He argued that the envelope budgeting system is not suitable for the Commission’s operations, noting that INEC’s activities often require urgent and flexible funding. He also identified the lack of a dedicated communications network as a major operational challenge, adding that if the Commission develops its own network infrastructure, Nigerians would be better positioned to hold it accountable for any technical failures.
In his remarks, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) said external agencies should not dictate the budgeting framework for INEC, given the unique and sensitive nature of its mandate.
He urged that the envelope system be set aside for the Commission and that Parliament should work with INEC’s actual requirements to avoid future complaints of underfunding.
A member of the House of Representatives from Edo State, Billy Osawaru, called for INEC’s budget to be placed on first-line charge as provided in the Constitution, with funds released in full and on time to enable proper planning and execution of its responsibilities.
The Joint Committee approved a motion recommending the one-time release of the Commission’s annual budget.
The committee also said it would consider the NYSC’s request for about N32 billion to increase Corps members’ allowances to N125,000 each when engaged in election duties.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, Senator Simon Along, assured that the National Assembly would work closely with the Commission to ensure it receives the necessary support for the successful conduct of the 2027 general elections.
Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Rep. Bayo Balogun, also pledged legislative support but cautioned the Commission against making promises it may not be able to fulfil.
He recalled that during the last general election, INEC made strong assurances about uploading results to the INEC Result Viewing (IREV) portal, creating the impression that results could be monitored in real time.
“Meanwhile, the IREV was not even in the Electoral Act; it was only in INEC regulations. So, be careful how you make promises,” Balogun warned.
