The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has proposed a total budget of N873,778,401,602.08 for the conduct of the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Thursday while presenting the Commission’s 2026 budget proposal and the detailed cost breakdown for the 2027 elections before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters.
According to the proposal, Election Operational Costs are estimated at N375.75 billion, while Election Administrative Costs stand at N92.31 billion. Election Technology Costs—covering electronic systems and related infrastructure—are projected at N209.21 billion. In addition, Election Capital Costs are put at N154.90 billion.
Together, these four components amount to N832.17 billion.
The Commission also included Miscellaneous Expenses totalling N41.61 billion, bringing the overall projected cost of the 2027 general elections to N873.78 billion.
Prof. Amupitan clarified that this election budget is separate from the Commission’s proposed N171 billion allocation for the 2026 fiscal year, which will fund routine activities such as by-elections and off-cycle polls.
He noted that the submission aligns with Section 3(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, which requires INEC to present its general election budget at least one year before the election.
During the session, lawmakers expressed concerns about funding arrangements and the implementation of key provisions of the amended Electoral Act, particularly the electronic transmission of results.
The Chairman of the Joint Committee on Electoral Matters, Senator Samuel Lalong, assured that the National Assembly would thoroughly review the proposal before approving what it deems sufficient to ensure smooth nationwide coverage. He emphasized that while INEC submits budget estimates, the constitutional authority to approve and appropriate funds lies with the legislature.
The committee also indicated it would review funding for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members to be deployed for election duties, following a request for increased financial support.
Under the proposal, each corps member is expected to receive N127,000, along with N4,500 for feeding and N5,000 for a five-day training programme. About 450,000 corps members are projected to participate in the 2027 general elections.
