President Muhammadu Buhari has
transmitted the budget of the 2019 election to the upper chamber of the
national assembly.
The president said the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies have
jointly submitted their expenses for the election, giving the breakdown as
N1189 billion for the electoral body and 52 billion for the police, Department
of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies.
In a letter read by Senate
President Bukola Saraki on Tuesday, the president asked to lawmakers to to re-allocate N164,104,792, 65 in the 2018
budget for the election expenses.
He said the balance of N78,340,530,
535 – mostly related to personal expenses – should be put in the 2019 budget.
“As you are aware, the 2019
general election is scheduled to be conducted early in 2019. To ensure that
adequate arrangements are made for free and fair election, it has become
necessary to appropriate funds to enable the relevant agencies to commence
preparations,” the letter read.
“INEC and the security agencies
have accordingly recently submitted their requests and these have been
subjected to the usual budget evaluation.
“The aggregate cost of the
election is estimated at N254, 445, 322,600. However, in line with the
prevailing fiscal condition, I’m proposing that the sum of N164,104,792,65 be
provided for through virement or supplementation of the 2018 budget. I propose
that the balance of N78,340,530, 535 mostly related to personnel allowances,
fuelling and other costs not required until election proper be provided in
their 2019 budget.”
The president also asked the
lawmakers to reinstate “certain cuts made to certain critical projects provided
in the original executive bill”.
“I’m therefore submitting for
your consideration the reinstatement of most of the most critical of such cuts
totalling N67,742,216,150 which are summarised in page one. The total amount required
to be provided for in the 2018 budget for the 2019 general election and to
restore the identified critical projects to the amount earlier proposed is
therefore N228,854, 800, 250,” the letter read.
“Implementing a budget of N9.12
trillion for 2018 is extremely challenging and therefore, I do not consider it
expedient to propose a further increase.
“Accordingly, I invite the
distinguished senate to consider, in the national interest, relocating some of
the funds appropriated for the new projects which were inserted into the 2018
budget proposal totalling N 578, 319, 951, 904 to cover the sum of N228,
854,800, 205 required as noted above.”
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