The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has projected a budget of N873.778 billion for the conduct of the 2027 general elections, separate from its N171 billion proposal for routine operations in the 2026 fiscal year.
INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan disclosed this on Thursday, February 12, 2026, while presenting the Commission’s 2026 budget proposal and the estimated cost for the 2027 elections to the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters.
He clarified that the N873.778 billion does not include a fresh request from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for an upward review of allowances for corps members serving as ad-hoc election staff.
The election budget is broken down into five major components:
– N379.748 billion for operational expenses
– N92.317 billion for administrative costs
– N209.206 billion for technology
– N154.905 billion for capital expenditure
– N42.608 billion for miscellaneous items
Amupitan explained that the proposal complies with Section 3(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, which requires the Commission to submit its election budget at least one year before a general election.
For the 2026 fiscal year, INEC received a budget ceiling of N140 billion from the Ministry of Finance but is proposing N171 billion to cover its needs. The breakdown includes:
– N109 billion for personnel costs
– N18.7 billion for overheads
– N42.63 billion for election-related activities
– N1.4 billion for capital projects
The INEC chairman criticised the envelope budgeting system, noting it does not align with the Commission’s operational demands for urgent and flexible funding.
He identified the lack of a dedicated communications network as a major challenge, adding that an independent infrastructure would enhance transparency and accountability, especially in cases of technical failures.
Lawmakers expressed concerns about funding. Senator Adams Oshiomhole called for scrapping the envelope system, while Rep. Billy Osawaru recommended placing INEC’s budget on first-line charge for prompt disbursement.
The Joint Committee passed a motion for one-time release of INEC’s annual allocation and plans to review the NYSC’s separate N32 billion request to increase corps members’ allowances to N125,000.
Rep. Bayo Balogun urged INEC to avoid overpromising, referencing past controversies with the INEC Result Viewing (IREV) portal.
Senate Committee Chairman Senator Simon Lalong reaffirmed legislative support for adequate funding ahead of 2027.
