The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued an urgent call to the Federal Government for the immediate release of the remaining ₦371 billion balance from its approved ₦873.78 billion election budget.
The commission cautioned that timely funding is necessary to guarantee seamless logistics, early procurement, and smooth execution of the upcoming 2027 General Elections.
Speaking at a media briefing on Monday morning, at the Commission’s headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, emphasized that early release of funds is vital to prevent operational bottlenecks.
”The conduct of a nationwide election requires extensive lead time for logistics, procurement of sensitive and non-sensitive materials, upgrading electoral technology, and training ad-hoc staff,” Olumekun stated. “While the Commission appreciates the disbursements made so far, prompt release of the outstanding balance is required to keep all operational timelines intact.”
Out of the total approved budget of ₦873.78 billion, the Federal Government disbursed approximately ₦500 billion in June, leaving an outstanding balance of ₦371 billion.
According to breakdown details provided by the commission, the allocation spans five core operational components: Election Operations: ₦379.75 billion allocated to directly manage polling activities and nationwide deployment.
Electoral Technology: ₦209.21 billion dedicated to upgrading technological infrastructure, including voter verification devices and result-transmission portals.
Capital Expenditure: ₦154.91 billion targeted for infrastructure and long-term equipment purchases.
Administrative Expenses: ₦92.31 billion earmarked for general administrative overheads across state and local government offices and miscellaneous costs: ₦42.61 billion reserved for contingencies and secondary operational demands.
INEC officials noted that essential preparations, including the printing and nationwide distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), payment of contractors, and security deployment arrangements, depend heavily on the availability of funds well ahead of election day.
The commission assured the public that it remains committed to conducting a transparent, credible, and efficient election, provided the remaining financial obligations are fulfilled without further delay.
