Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has proposed a total budget of ₦873,778,401,602.08 for the conduct of the 2027 general elections.
The Chairman of the Commission, Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Thursday while presenting INEC’s 2026 budget proposal and the detailed cost estimate for the 2027 elections before the **National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters.
*Breakdown of the Proposed Budget*
According to documents submitted to lawmakers, the projected election budget is divided into four major components:
Election Operational Costs: ₦375,748,195,271.47
Election Administrative Costs: ₦92,311,591,396.58
Election Technology Costs: ₦209,205,589,977.70
Election Capital Costs: ₦154,904,529,641.94
These figures amount to ₦832,169,906,287.69.
INEC also made provision for Miscellaneous Expenses totalling ₦41,608,495,314.39, bringing the overall estimate for the 2027 general elections to ₦873,778,401,602.08.
2026 Budget Separate from Election Funding
Amupitan explained that the election budget is distinct from the Commission’s proposed ₦171 billion allocation for the 2026 fiscal year, which is meant to cover routine activities such as by-elections and off-cycle polls.
He noted that the submission aligns with Section 3(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, which requires INEC to present its general election budget at least one year before the polls.
*Lawmakers Raise Concerns*
During the session, members of the committee raised questions about funding mechanisms and the implementation of key provisions of the amended Electoral Act, especially the electronic transmission of election results.
Chairman of the Joint Committee on Electoral Matters, Samuel Lalong, assured that the National Assembly would carefully examine the proposal before approving what it considers sufficient for effective nationwide coverage.
He stressed that while INEC submits financial estimates, the constitutional authority to approve and appropriate funds lies with the legislature.
The committee also disclosed plans to review funding for members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) who will be deployed for election duties, following a request by the scheme for increased financial support.
Under the proposal, each corps member is expected to receive ₦127,000, in addition to ₦4,500 for feeding and ₦5,000 for five days of training.
INEC estimates that about 450,000 corps members will be deployed nationwide for the 2027 general elections.
With the submission now before lawmakers, attention is expected to focus on budget scrutiny, funding adequacy, and compliance with electoral reforms, as preparations for the 2027 polls gather momentum.
(With additional reports from Channels TV)
