The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has told the National Assembly that it requires N873.78 billion to conduct the 2027 general elections.
The commission also proposed N171 billion for its 2026 fiscal year operations.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this while presenting the commission’s 2026 budget proposal and projected 2027 election costs before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters in Abuja.
The proposed N873.78 billion marks a sharp increase from the N313.4 billion released by the Federal Government for the 2023 general elections. According to Amupitan, the 2027 election budget covers the full conduct of the nationwide polls, while the N171 billion for 2026 is intended to fund routine activities, including by-elections and off-cycle governorship contests.
He explained that the election budget was structured into five major components: N379.75 billion for operational costs, N92.32 billion for administrative expenses, N209.21 billion for technological requirements, N154.91 billion for election capital costs, and N42.61 billion for miscellaneous expenses.
Amupitan noted that the proposal did not include a fresh request by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) seeking increased allowances for corps members deployed as ad hoc election staff.
He said the budget was prepared in line with Section 3(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, which mandates INEC to submit its election budget at least one year before a general election.
On the 2026 fiscal plan, the INEC chairman stated that while the Ministry of Finance provided a budget envelope of N140 billion, the commission proposed 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.
Amupitan argued that the envelope budgeting system does not adequately suit the commission’s operations, citing the need for urgent and flexible funding. He also identified the absence of a dedicated communications network as a key operational challenge, suggesting that owning such infrastructure would enhance accountability during elections.
Lawmakers at the session expressed support for the commission. Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) said external agencies should not dictate INEC’s budgeting framework, urging the National Assembly to consider setting aside the envelope model to prevent underfunding.
Similarly, House member Billy Osawaru called for INEC’s budget to be placed on first-line charge, as provided in the Constitution, to ensure timely and full release of funds.
The joint committee subsequently approved a motion recommending a one-time release of the commission’s annual budget. It also indicated that it would consider the NYSC’s request for about N32 billion to increase allowances for corps members engaged in election duties.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, Simon Lalong, assured that the National Assembly would work closely with the commission to guarantee adequate support for the successful conduct of the 2027 general elections.
In the same vein, Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Bayo Balogun, pledged legislative backing but cautioned INEC against making commitments it may not be able to fulfil, recalling concerns surrounding result uploads to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal during the 2023 elections.
