NASS committee on INEC. Soucre: Channels TV.
The National Assembly Joint Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved N143 billion for the 2019 general elections.
The committee adopted the amount which President Muhammadu Buhari presented to the legislature in July after over a week of deliberation on the matter but refused to approve N45.6bn proposed to be vired from the 2019 budget.
Famzn News recalls that the Nigerian President had in his letter to the Senate, requested that N189.2 billion be released to INEC. He asked that N143.5 billion be released this year and N45.6 billion be released in 2019.
However, INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, in his presentation, demanded the entire N189.2 billion.
The commission’s request caused members of the committee to again deliberate on whether to grant INEC’s request or that of the president.
Famzn News had reported earlier that the National Assembly joint committee failed to harmonise the divergent positions of the Senate and the House of Representatives last week, necessitating an adjournment for more consultations to be made.
While some members of the panel suggested that the entire N189 billion be approved as requested by the electoral umpire, others were of the opinion that approving the entire amount will be going against the president’s request.
On August 17, majority of the members including the chairman of the committee, Senator Suleiman Nazif, moved that the committee accept INEC requests and refer it to the committee on appropriation to determine how the funding will be made.
On Monday, the Senator Nazif announced that N143 billion will be approved for INEC, after an executive session which lasted for about 40 minutes.
The committee chairman said the approval was in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s request.
His words: “The joint committee sat and has come up with the resolution to adopt the N143 billion presented by Mr. President.
“It is also the wish of this committee that INEC then present their budget of N143 billion as requested by Mr. President.
“Therefore, INEC has an opportunity to prioritise and this committee is ready to receive them tomorrow.
“This committee will be reconvening tomorrow by 1 pm so that we can consider the presentation by INEC,” Senator Nazif said.
However, the committee chairman failed to mention when the other N45 billion will be approved for the electoral commission.
INEC is expected to review the budget earlier presented and present it before the committee on Tuesday.
INEC boss had earlier said the budgeted N189.2bn covers all expenses and necessities to ensure a successful election.
Famzn News understands that the proposed budget for the 2019 election budget has an increase of about N69 billion compared to the N120 billion 2015 election budget.
Yakubu listed increase in the number of political parties, increase in voters population and registered voters, the high cost of logistics, exchange rates, increase in number of constituencies as reasons for the increase.