- The sum of N9 billion has been earmarked by INEC in the 2018 budget estimates, for hazard allowance for its field staff, ahead of the 2019 election
- The INEC chairman also disclosed that the commission was still compiling its total budgetary figure for the upcoming general election
- 8 additional nominees have also been screened by the Senate, for the position of INEC Resident Electoral Commissioners
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has earmarked N9 billion in the 2018 budget estimates of the commission for hazard and other allowances of staff members on the field, NAN reports.
Chairman of the commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu made the disclosure on Wednesday, January 24, while defending the 2018 budget estimates of the electoral body before the Senate Committee on INEC.
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NAIJ.com gathers that he explained that the total budgetary figure of the commission for the 2019 general election was still being compiled.
According to him, the exact amount of money the 2019 general election will cost the commission across the 119,999 polling units in the country can only be arrived at, after the passage of Electoral Act.
“It is provisions of the amendment to 2010 Electoral Act after passage by the National Assembly that will show the commission how elections at primary level by the political parties would be conducted.
“And monetary cost that would entail on the part of INEC, let alone the general elections”, he said.
Meanwhile, the Senate Committee on INEC also screened additional 8 nominees as Resident Electoral Commissioners.
Those screened and cleared were Dr Usman Ajidagba from Kwara, Baba Yusuf Abba, Borno, Segun Agbaje from Ekiti .
Others are: Yahaya Bello, Nasarawa and Mohammed Ibrahim from Gombe.
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Meanwhile, NAIJ.com previously reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission disclosed that it would register 12 new political parties for the 2019 general elections.
The commission’s national commissioner for information and voter education, Deji Soyebi who disclosed this in Abuja on Monday, January 22, said at the moment 68 political parties had been registered while 90 others are at different stages of qualification.
Soyebi stated that INEC had succeeded in registering about 74 million voters, while it is projected that 85 million would be registered by 2019.
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Source: Naija.ng
ROSY CREST
Thursday, 25 January 2018