The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has raised concerns over the overwhelming financial burden of conducting elections in Nigeria, calling it excessive and unsustainable.
In his statement on Friday during a defense of the 2024 budget implementation before the National Assembly, Prof. Yakubu noted that while INEC is one of the largest employers in the country, it operates with a significantly reduced budget of N40 billion, far below the N80 billion originally requested.
He expressed that the budget constraints are straining the commission’s ability to effectively manage the electoral process and its responsibilities.
To address these challenges, Yakubu urged lawmakers to consider organizing a retreat that would allow both the legislature and INEC to collaborate, share ideas, and devise solutions to the pressing issues facing Nigeria’s electoral system.
“We need a major conversation, the commission cannot continue conducting elections all year round,” Yakubu said.
He also highlighted the urgent need for repairs to INEC’s deteriorating facilities, including 860 buildings across the country.
The chairman called on the National Assembly to ensure that the electoral body, which has now proposed a budget of N126 billion, receives sufficient funding to meet its growing demands.
