From Kenneth Udeh, Abuja
The Budgetary aggregate of 40 Billion naira allocated to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has been turned down by the commission as they described the sum as grossly inadequate to fund the affairs of the electoral body.
While rejecting the amount proposed by the office of Budget and National Planning of the the Federal Government , the commission led by its Chairman , Prof. Mahmood Yakubu presented its own drafted proposal of 89 Billion naira to the Senate committee on INEC during the budget defense meeting chaired by Sen Alli Sharafadeen Abiodun on Wednesday.
In the course of the meeting held at the Senate New Building, Mahmood gave reasons the 40 Billion wouldn’t be enough to cater for the financial needs of the commission in 2024.
In his explanation Mahmood said that total budget provision of 40 Billion can only cover the personal cost of the commission which has a workforce of over 15, 000 personnel.
Further Justifying the commission’s decision, the INEC Chief told the Lawmakers that due to the 40 percent peculiar allowance introduced by the FG and the cost of the Duty Tour Allowance, DTA of its staff across the Federation the commission’s wage Bill has risen to 36.5 Billion. By the time the sum of 36.5 Billion is subtracted from the 40 billion the commission will be left with almost nothing to fund its capital, electoral expenditure and Overhead costs.
He also warned that 2024 off season Governorship elections scheduled to hold in Edo and Ondo states may be jeopardized including the National Assembly bye elections for Ebonyi South & Yobe East. Other bye constituency elections that may be affected are Akoko North East/Akoko North West Federal Constituency of Ondo State; Yauri/Shanga/Ngaski Federal Constituency of Kebbi State; Isa/Sabon Birni Federal Constituency of Sokoto State and Khana II State Constituency of Rivers State.
Mahmood explained other deficiencies;
“Our first priority is staff welfare, it goes beyond that but as a matter of human rights. But associated with the payment of salaries are the social contributions, the NHIS, Group life insurance, Employees compensation scheme and so on. When we pay salaries and social contributions there is nothing for any other activity again including the forthcoming Governorship elections coming next year in Edo and Ondo states.
“We also do electoral activities in February next year in which parties will commence primaries for the Governorship elections and we have to be there to monitor the primaries,we have to do continuous voter registration and make the cards available long before the elections and there’s no provision for that. For Ondo primaries will begin in April and there’s no provision for that.
“By the time you talk about the DTA as provided by circular and you convert it to naira and kobo,it crashes given the exchange rate so under Overhead we pay for all these including issues like Diesel for our generators because sometimes we are almost always on Generator not only in our conferences but in our ICT server room.
As a substitute to the inadequate 40 Billion, the INEC Chairman submitted another expenditure proposal of 89 Billion naira which they tagged as the actual need of the commission. “We have submitted proposal C which shows that we actually need 89 Billion so like I said that our budget for 2023 is practically 68 Billion so the difference actually is 21 Billion not 49 Billion and we have given a breakdown on how we intend to spend the money.
In his previous explanation , Mahmood gave an analysis of the 2023 budget performance which he said is 68 Billion naira in real terms as against the 50 Billion which was actually appropriated.
Explaining further, he reminded the Senate that an additional 18 Billion was approved for the commission which is yet to be released, when added to the initial appropriated sum of 50 Billion will result in 68 Billion naira.
He said; “The Federal Government issued a circular after the budget was appropriated in December 2022, so no provision was made in the budget at all and to pay for the over 15, 000 workforce of the Commission we needed 10.6 Billion which we did not have and it wasn’t provided for at the same time DTA for officials (Duty Tour Allowance ) was revised by a minimum of 100% across the board and again, we didn’t implement it.
“Then after the withdrawal of the fuel subsidy the 35,000 naira wage award by the Federal Government for six months from September 2023 to February 2024 was announced and there’s no provision in our budget for the implementation of these categories of Allowances .
“So we made a case to the Executive and the executive made a provision of 18 billion naira for INEC under the supplementary budget to enable us meet these obligations and the National Assembly appropriated the 18 Billion under the supplementary budget for us to these obligations as recommended by the executive. So practically speaking the budget of the Commission is actually 68 Billion which is the 50 Billion plus the 18 billion under the supplementary budget , but I must say that we are still waiting for cash backing for the 18 Billion under the supplementary.
Disappointment was expressed by Mahmood that budget allocation for 2024 dropped to 40 Billion which he said was the amount allocated to the commission in 2021.
“But we are surprised that for 2024 the budget now dropped from 68 Billion to 40 Billion. 40 Billion was what was appropriated to the commission in 2021 for the 2022 budget so the amount is grossly insufficient to even meet up with personnel cost in view of the need policy on additional Allowances for officials.
“In 2023 the sum of 50 billion was appropriated to INEC as our statutory budget, now this is different and separate from the election budget. INEC is an agency of Government with over 15 thousand staff and we are spread all over the country and this 50 Billion is for the commission’s headquarters in Abuja and 36 states including the FCT and 774 local government offices, Mahmood lamented.
Appealing to the Senate to consider its own proposal of 89 Billion, Mahmood mentioned that the budget covers all INEC’s offices and activities, adding that the commission does not operate like a Ministry where you have the headquarters on a budget line then you have parastatals of agencies that also have their budget line.
“The single line of 40 Billion covers all INEC offices nationwide from the local, state and National, ” Mahmood stressed.
“By the time you talk about the DTA as provided by circular and you convert it to naira and kobo , it crashes given the exchange rate so under Overhead we pay for all these including issues like Diesel for our generators because sometimes we are almost always on Generator not only in our conferences but in our ICT server room.
The plight of the commission caught the attention of Senator Abdul Ningi who acknowledged that the commission was treated unfairly due to the amount of funds allocated for it.
The Bauchi Central Senator said that there was poor engagement between INEC and the Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning.
He said; “I am amused and concerned that the executive treated INEC in this manner , we think that INEC would have had deliberations with the Federal Ministry of Budget and planning that’s why we are having these discrepancies.
Ningi however assured that the complaints of the commission will be forwarded to the Senate committee on Appropriations for immediate action.
Ningi asked Mahmood what will be the fate of next year’s elections if the 40 Billion is eventually passed.
In his response, Mahmood expressed optimism that a separate budgetary sum will be appropriated for the commission.
He responded; “In elections 2024, if we don’t get the money I’m sure the money will be found either by Appropriation except that we shall say it out. Either through ways and means. If we don’t conduct elections there will be a constitutional crisis. I have already spoken to the Minister of Budget and Planning in this manner.
Mahmood also reminded the Senate that INEC still relies on the Federal Government for funding adding that the commission is not empowered to generate revenue neither does the commission accept financial gratifications or funds from external sources.
“INEC is not a revenue generating agency, this communication is a policy we don’t accept 1 kobo from any partner we are treasury funded. These are the sovereign responsibility of the state, we collaborate with international development partners. This support is also extended to the NASS, Civil Society and the media, Mahmood said.
Adamu Aliero charged the election to improve its conduct of elections in the country. Aliero raised Alarm that the country risked being taken by Military coup if its electoral process failed to improve.
He said , “Nigerians want a situation where the votes will really count , though there have been some improvements. Without that Chairman the future of democracy in Nigeria will be at stake. We are surrounded by neighbouring countries that were formerly governed by democracy , Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger but now have been taken over by the Military.
“We want a situation where if you vote in a particular unit you can see it elsewhere , even though it requires full electronic election. If there’s no improvement in the Nigerian election I will not contest again. We want solutions to come from you being the umpire.
In his opening address, Chairman of the committee Senator Sharfeeden noted that though the last general elections witnessed some improvements there are however still some lapses.
He said; “It’s an established fact that most Nigerians including INEC are now saying that though the electoral act of 2022 has been the best so far , we still have some gaps there after the implementation in the 2023 elections and have said that there’s room for amendment.
“Be rest assured that the committee will leave no stone unturned until our electoral process gains the expected public trust and serves as a qualitative leadership instrument as promised by this administration.
According to the 40 Billion budget, the INEC dedicated the entire amount for personnel cost at the rate of 40 Billion leaving other expenditures at zero .
In the 89, 000 Billion recommended by INEC , 44.532 Billion was set aside for personnel costs. The sum of 7.978 Billion was allocated for Overhead cost , while 30.302 Billion was set aside for electoral expenditure and the sum of 6.186 Billion naira was designated for capital expenditure. Also 323 million naira and 866.800 was appropriated for utilities and maintenance services amongst other expenses.