INEC to spend N45bn in 2017
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC said it would spend N45bn for its activities in 2017. This was revealed as the chairman, Senate Committee on INEC, Ali Ndume, challenged the commission to ensure that it conducts credible elections in 2019.
Ndume who called on the chairman of the commission, Mahmood Yakubu to surpass the achievements of his immediate predecessor, Atahiru Jega, gave the charge when the committee hosted INEC in a defence of its 2017 Budget on Thursday in Abuja.
He said that the country could not return to the past when irregularities stalled elections across the country.
According to him, the 2015 general elections conducted by Jega was globally acclaimed to be credible and the best of its kind in the history of the country.
The chairman assured that the committee was willing to give the commission all the support it needed to ensure that the 2019 polls met expectations of Nigerians.
Defending the commission’s budget, its chairman said that N45bn had been budgeted for its activities in 2017.
He said that N20.9bn was earmarked for Personnel Cost during the year, explaining that the commission’s staff strength was over 16, 000.
Yakubu added that N19bn was budgeted for electoral matters as against N25bn in 2016 because there would be only few elections during the year.
The commission’s defence was however adjourned till next Tuesday to enable members of the committee acquaint themselves with details of the document.
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