INEC Gives Reasons For Needing Additional N18B
Princess-Ekwi Ajide Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, says the supplementary budget of eighteen billion Naira is for addressing issues of staff welfare and allowances as well as the conduct of the eleven outstanding bye- and off cycle elections.
The Chairman of INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this, when he led a team from the Commission to defend the supplementary budget before the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters and the Senate Committee on INEC at the National Assembly.
Defending the budget, Professor Yakubu, explained that N10.6 billion out of the sum would enable the Commission pay its staff the 40% increase in peculiar allowance approved by the Federal Government in April this year while over N3 billion is meant to pay INEC Staff the award of N35,000 approved for each Public Servant across the country for six months by the Federal Government, including the new duty tour allowance.
The INEC Chairman, said, N1.6 billion will be spent on the conduct of eleven outstanding bye-elections, comprising five Federal Constituencies, four State Constituencies, and two Senatorial Districts and N1.4 billion will augment the cost differentials in the budget for the Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi governorship elections.
According to the INEC boss, this development is expected to bring relief to the Commission’s staff who have clamored for improved welfare in the face of the economic hardship being experienced owing to the removal of the fuel subsidy, and consequent increase in the prices of fuel and other commodities in the country.
It will be recalled that the Commission had earlier sent a proposal of 18 billion Naira to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and defended it before the Executive, who referred it to the National Assembly for approval.
