The Senate and House of Representatives joint Committee has advocated for a sufficiently funded Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
The said, it would be in the interest of Nigerians that the 2024 budget of INEC is increased, to enable the Commission handle myriads of election and administrative challenges.
The chairman of Senate committee on INEC Senator Ali Sharafadeen, had during the budget defence presentation to the Committee on Appropriation on Wednesday decried inadequate provision of recurrent that barely pay staff salaries saying and they have two off-cycle gubernatorial elections as well as re-run and bye-elections in 2024.
According to the lawmaker there is need to increase the budgetary allocation to the Commission.
He lamented that relying on Supplementary Budgets would not be the proper thing to do, stressing primaries for 2024 elections are slated for the first quarter of the year.
“The envelope given to INEC is barely enough to pay salaries, and they have two off-cycle gubernatorial elections as wall as re-run and bye-elections in 2024.
“There is need to increase their budget now because supplementary budget can not work; primaries for elections are commencing around February, so certainly it’s not a good time to bring supplementary budgets.
“The best thing is to make the necessary provisions now and that’s is why we are pleading for increased budgetary provision for INEC in the 2024 fiscal year” he said.
