Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega, yesterday disclosed that the commission has proposed to spend N92.9 billion for the conduct of 2015 general elections.
Speaking during a stakeholder’s public hearing to assess INEC’s preparations and challenges ahead of the general election, Jega also said the commission has registered 73.5 million voters for the elections, adding that $7.9 will be spent on each voter.
He also revealed that the commission is working towards conducting the general elections between January and February 2015, adding that elections may be suspended in the three north-east states where there is emergency rule unless there is remarkable peace there before the elections.
In his further presentations to the Senate INEC Committee, Jega emphasised the need for adequate funds to be provided for the 2015 polls, saying “We do recognise that organizing elections is only one of many things requiring funding by government, but the centrality of elections to our collective future is also clear”.
While trying to justify the amount, the INEC boss said “In preparing for the forthcoming elections, one guiding principle for the commission has been to make elections more cost-effective and to give Nigerians better value for money.
“Our estimate is that the cost of election per voter, which is an international standard for viewing the cost of elections, is coming down in Nigeria.
“We project that for the 2015 elections, this would come further down by almost $1-from $8.8 in 2011 to $7.9, representing almost a 10 percent drop”, he said.
He said the N92.9 billion proposal compares favourably with election expenditures in other African countries, pointing out that the commission is anxious of meeting all its funding requirements early enough before the general elections.
However, he said the challenges facing the commission are in the areas of insecurity, poor funding, negative attitude of politicians and political apathy among voters.
He also highlighted the residual problems of the commission to include delay in the amendment of the legal framework within which the commission operates, giving instances with the constitution and the electoral Act; completion of the review of electoral constituencies and polling units and prosecution of election offenders.
Meanwhile, in his address of welcome, the chairman of Senate Committee on INEC, Andy Uba said the experiences and reports on the conduct of the general elections shows that there will be need to revisit the Electoral Act of 2010.
He also said there is need to address observed lapses in the previous elections, so as to strengthen INEC to successfully deliver the 2015 elections credibly and freely according to expectations of Nigerians.
The Senate Committee however relieved comments on the issue of diaspora voting, Rights of election day workers; possibility of e-voting and making adequate provisions for persons living with any form of disability to vote.
It would be observed that the total amount of N92.904 billion being required by INEC for the conduct of the 2015 elections, is an increase of about $7.9billion from a total of N85 billion given to the commission by the federal government from the Special Fund Account, to conduct the 2011 polls.
Source: People’s Daily
