The 2023 general elections scheduled for February next year will guzzle N355 billion, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has said.
The electoral body disclosed this on Wednesday during the 2023 budget defence at the National Assembly.
The commission presented a total statutory budget of N50 billion for 2023 fiscal year before the senate committee on INEC and Electoral Matters
During the 2022 budget consideration, the senate panel approved N305 billion for the conduct of the 2023 general elections as proposed by INEC.
With this, INEC is expected to spend a total of N355 billion in 2023 for the 2023 General Election and the Annual Budget.
The 2023 budget of N50 billion for INEC comes with an increment of N10 billion as against N40 billion approved as expenditure for the commission in 2022.
In the 2023 budget submitted to the Senate Committee on INEC and Electoral Matters by the INEC chairman Mahood Yakub for consideration, it has N2.6 billion earmarked for off season elections like Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa Governorship elections expected to be conducted in November 2023
According to INEC, the N2.6 billion will cater for provision for elections, referenda and recalls expenses such as printing of ballot papers, result sheets, printing of forms, envelopes, materials and supplies.
Others are logistics expenses, honorarium/allowance for officials, supervision, security /intervention support, Election ICT system support, Election official training and recruiting expenses, Election fund management logistics, printing of voter’s registers for off season and bye elections.
The breakdown further shows that N50 million will be spent to buy firefighting equipment, 60 million worth of computers and accessories, office furniture and fittings worth 50 million, motor Vehicles – N150 million, N250 million to repair and renovate office and residential buildings
Others are 2.4 billion on miscellaneous, which comprise provision for entertainment during meetings among others.
