Nigeria’s INEC Chairman Laments Deteriorating Facilities, Inadequate Funding

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman in Nigeria, Professor Mahmood Yakubu has lamented the deteriorating state of INEC’s facilities, particularly the 860 buildings across the country, which are in urgent need of repair.

He made this statement on Friday while defending the 2024 budget implementation before the National Assembly.

Professor Yakubu while also expressing concerns over the high cost of conducting elections in Nigeria, described it as exorbitant and burdensome.

He stressed that despite INEC being one of the largest employers in the country, it operated on a reduced budget of N40 billion, significantly lower than the N80 billion initially requested.

In a bid to address these challenges, he appealed to the lawmakers to organize a retreat where both the legislature and INEC can collaborate, exchange ideas, and find solutions to the pressing issues affecting the electoral process in Nigeria.

“We need a major conversation, the commission cannot continue conducting election all year round,” he said.

He urged the National Assembly to ensure that the electoral body, which has now submitted a 126 billion naira budget proposal, receives adequate funding.