*N305b Approved In 2022 For 2023 Polls
*N50b Additional Request
The electoral body in Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday made a additional N50 billion statutory budget request for the 2023 Fiscal year during a budget defence session before the Senate Committee on INEC and Electoral Matters.
The National Assembly had last year during the 2022 budget consideration approved the sum of N305 billion for the conduct of the 2023 general elections as proposed by the Electoral Umpire, bringing the total budgetary allocations (2022 and 2023 budgets) to a total of N355 billion to INEC for the conduct of the elections.
The 2023 statutory budget request of N50 billion by INEC is an increment of N10 billion when compared to the N40 billion approved in 2022 fiscal act for the Commission.
A breakdown of the 2023 budget proposal before the Senate Committee on INEC and Electoral Matters indicate that the Electoral body plans to spend N2.6 billion for off season polls like the Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa Governorship elections which are expected to be conducted in November 2023.
