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Tag: INEC Budget

  • Fresh crisis may hit Presidency, Senate over INEC budget

    …Senate approves N189.2bn for INEC

     

     

    The Senate Thursday approved the sum of N189.2 billion for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the conduct of the 2019 general elections.

    This is coming as sharp disagreement appeared to have broken between the Presidency and the upper chamber over the source of funding of the INEC budget.

    In its approval, the Senate refused to give nod that the N189.2 billion for INEC should be sourced from Constituency Intervention Fund to fund the 2019 general elections.

    The upper chamber resolved that the fund should be sourced from the Special Intervention Programme, as provided in the Service Wide Votes of the 2018 Appropriation Act.

    President Muhammadu Buhari, in a letter addressed to the Senate President in July, requested the Senate to vire over N242 billion from the N500 billion the National Assembly inserted into the 2018 budget as its Constituency Intervention Funds.

    The fund, Buhari said, said was to enable the INEC and security agencies to conduct the 2019 general elections.

    The Senate failed to approve the request due to its annual break in July.

    The joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on INEC and Electoral Matters, held a series of meetings with INEC officials to address some grey areas in the INEC request.

    Chairman of the committee, Senator Suleiman Nazif, said that members resolved to ask the Presidency to find other sources of funding for the conduct of the 2019 general elections.

    The lawmakers refused to approve the reduction of funds meant for their constituency projects to fund the 2019 general elections.

    In another letter addressed to the Senate President which was read on Wednesday, President Buhari was silent on the source of funding for INEC election budget for 2018 elections.

    It was however believed that President Buhari still wanted the fund to be sourced from the Constituency Intervention Funds.

    The Senate Committee on Appropriations, which met on Wednesday to conclude work on the Presidential request, submitted its report Thursday.

    The appropriation committee adopted the position of the INEC and Electoral Matters committee that the fund should be sourced from the Service Wide Vote.

    The report of Appropriations Committee adopted by the Senate, said that N144.746 billion should be vired from the Special Intervention Programme (Recurrent).

    It vired another N44.260 billion from Special Intervention Programme (Capital), a total of N189.2 billion as requested by INEC.

    Chairman of the committee, Mohammed Danjuma Goje, while presenting the report, said: “The sum of N189.2 billion requested for the funding of the 2019 general elections should be vired from both recurrent and capital components of Special Intervention Programme captured in the Service Wide Votes of the 2018 Appropriation Act and be added to the sum of N45.5 billion provided for INEC in the statutory transfers.

    “This will bring the total budget of INEC in the 2018 budget to N234, 507 billion.”

    “It is pertinent to mention that the recommendations on this interim report cover provisions for INEC’s 2019 general elections operations.

    “In making this recommendation, the committee took into account the report of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on INEC, which met several times with INEC during the recess to justify the need for their component of the request.

    “The final report which will cover the affected security agencies will be presented in the next legislative day.”

    The Senate is likely to approve the fund for security agencies next week following a meeting of the Appropriation committee with security chiefs Thursday.

     

  • Senate set to approve INEC budget N189.2b poll budget

    The Senate Committee on Appropriation yesterday gave its nod to the N189.207 billion requested to fund the elections next year.

    President Buhari in a  September 19 letter requested for the holistic consideration and approval of INEC and security agencies budget for the 2019 elections.

    The source of funding of the election budget appears to be breeding discomfort among National Assembly members.

    Many senators asked consistently that the source of funding should be clarified.

    While President Buhari said that the N189.207 billion should be sourced from the N500 billion the National Assembly inserted into the 2018 budget, the joint National Assembly committee on INEC recommended that the money should be pulled from the over N900 billion Service Wide Vote in the 2018 budget.

    A memo entitled “Submission of harmonised report of INEC 2019 general election supplementary budget estimates submitted to the Appropriation commission by Chairman, Senate Committee on INEC, Senator Suleiman Nazif and his counterpart in the House of Representatives, Hon. Aishatu Jibril Dukku said:  ”INEC was allocated the sum of N143,512,529,455 only as recommended by Mr. President for its 2019 general elections and indicated as amount needed for 2018.

    “The balance of N45,695,015,438 billion was requested for appropriation under 2019 budget.

    “However, the INEC presented the entire sum of N189,207,544,893.13 for the committee’s consideration.

    ”The committee after wide consultation with INEC decided on a budgetary allocation of the sum of N143,312,256,955.13 only.”

    Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje proposed at the meeting yesterday that the two letters by President Buhari should be combined “so that we give Mr. President what he wants.”

    The proposal was unanimously carried.

    Before the committee went into closed session to consider the seemingly knotty issue of the source of funding of the INEC budget, Goje announced that the committee resolved that N189,207,544, 893.13 as requested should be approved for INEC for the conduct of the 2019 elections.

    On security budget for the election, Goje said that the committee also resolved to invite the National Security Adviser, Director General Department of State Services, Commandant Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Inspector General of Police, Comptroller General Nigeria Immigration Service and heads of other security agencies connected with the 2019 elections to appear before the committee to defend their budgets.

    Goje emphasized that the N78,340,530535.00 for security agencies would be approved after the appearance of the heads of the agencies.

    President Buhari in the letter entitled Re: Request for virement/supplementary budget said: “You recall that in my letter dated 11th July, 2018, I requested for the kind consideration of the National Assembly for a virement under the 2018 Appropriation Act.

    “Part of this request was for the funding of the request made by the INEC and security agencies for the 2019 general elections.

    “In that letter, I indicated that INEC and the security agencies had indicated that their total funding requirement for the 2019 elections would amount to N242,445,322,600.00.

    “Of that amount, I have requested that N164,104,792,065,00 be accommodated in the 2018 budget, by way of virement within the 2018 Appropriation Act, whilst the balance of N78,340, 530,535.00, should be considered by the National Assembly as part of the 2019 budget.

    “When the Hon. Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, appeared before the Joint Committee of the National Assembly, set up to consider my request, he was informed that the National Assembly would be willing to consider accommodating the total amount required for the funding of the 2019 elections as part of the virement of the 2018 Appropriation Act, provided there was a specific request made by me.

    “In the light of the current realities, and in order to ensure that the 2019 general elections are not affected by any delays in the passage into law of the 2019 budget, I accept this kind suggestion.

    “I therefore wish to formally request that the total amount of N242,445,322,600.00 requested by INEC and the security agencies be considered for inclusion in my virement request under the 2018 Appropriation Act.

    “I look forward to your urgent consideration of this request to ensure that the 2019 general elections are properly conducted.”

    The implication of what Senate Appropriation committee did yesterday was that the entire INEC budget request would be accommodated as demanded by President Buhari.

    The only hiccup may be the source of funding of the budget.

  • 2019 elections: Fresh controversy trails INEC budget

    —As Senate committee approves N189.2bn

    NSA, DG DSS, IGP, others to defend budget Thursday

     

    Fresh controversy appears to be trailing President Muhammadu Buhari’s request of the approval of the sum of N189,207,544,893.13 for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the conduct of 2019 elections.

    This is coming as the Senate Committee on Appropriation on Wednesday resolved to give nod to the sum of N189.207 bn for the conduct of the elections as requested by the President.

    President Buhari in a letter dated 19th September, 2018 requested for the holistic consideration and approval of INEC and security agencies budget for the 2019 elections.

    The source of funding of the INEC’s 2019 election budget appears to be breeding discomfort among National Assembly members.

    Many senators asked consistently that the source of funding of the INEC budget should be clarified.

    While President Buhari said that the N189.207 billion should be sourced from the N500 billion the National Assembly inserted into the 2018 budget, the joint National Assembly committee on INEC recommended that the money should be pulled from the over N900 billion Service Wide Vote in the 2018 budget.

    A memo entitled “Submission of harmonised report of INEC 2019 general election supplementary budget estimates submitted to the Appropriation commission by Chairman, Senate Committee on INEC, Senator Suleiman Nazif and his counterpart in the House of Representatives, Hon. Aishatu Jibril Dukku said:

    “INEC was allocated the sum of N143,512,529,455 only as recommended by Mr. President for its 2019 general elections and indicated as amount needed for 2018.

    “The balance of N45,695,015,438 billion was requested for appropriation under 2019 budget.

    “However, the INEC presented the entire sum of N189,207,544,893.13 for the committee’s consideration.

    “The committee after wide consultation with INEC decided on a budgetary allocation of the sum of N143,312,256,955.13 only.”

    Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje proposed at the meeting on Wednesday that the two letters by President Buhari should be combined “so that we give Mr. President what he wants.”

    The proposal was unanimously carried.

    Before the committee went into closed session to consider the seemingly knotty issue of the source of funding of the INEC budget, Goje announced that the committee resolved that N189,207,544, 893.13 as requested should be approved for INEC for the conduct of the 2019 elections.

    On security budget for the election, Goje said that the committee also resolved to invite the National Security Adviser, Director General Department of State Services, Commandant Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Inspector General of Police, Comptroller General Nigeria Immigration Service and heads of other security agencies connected with the 2019 elections to appear before the committee to defend their budgets.

    Goje emphasized that the N78,340,530535.00 for security agencies would be approved after the appearance of the heads of the agencies.

    President Buhari in the letter entitled Re: Request for virement/supplementary budget said: “You recall that in my letter dated 11th July, 2018, I requested for the kind consideration of the National Assembly for a virement under the 2018 Appropriation Act.

    “Part of this request was for the funding of the request made by the INEC and security agencies for the 2019 general elections.

    “In that letter, I indicated that INEC and the security agencies had indicated that their total funding requirement for the 2019 elections would amount to N242,445,322,600.00.

    “Of that amount, I have requested that N164,104,792,065,00 be accommodated in the 2018 budget, by way of virement within the 2018 Appropriation Act, whilst the balance of N78,340, 530,535.00, should be considered by the National Assembly as part of the 2019 budget.

    “When the Hon. Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, appeared before the Joint Committee of the National Assembly, set up to consider my request, he was informed that the National Assembly would be willing to consider accommodating the total amount required for the funding of the 2019 elections as part of the virement of the 2018 Appropriation Act, provided there was a specific request made by me.

    Read Also: Buhari, APC governors meet in Aso Rock

    “In the light of the current realities, and in order to ensure that the 2019 general elections are not affected by any delays in the passage into law of the 2019 budget, I accept this kind suggestion.

    “I therefore wish to formally request that the total amount of N242,445,322,600.00 requested by INEC and the security agencies be considered for inclusion in my virement request under the 2018 Appropriation Act.

    ”I look forward to your urgent consideration of this request to ensure that the 2019 general elections are properly conducted.”

    The implication of what Senate Appropriation committee did yesterday was that the entire INEC budget request would be accommodated as demanded by President Buhari.

    The only hiccup may be the source of funding of the budget.

  • 2019: Group asks NASS to pass INEC budget

    The Independent Service Delivery Monitoring Group (ISDMG), on Friday asked the National Assembly to pass the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) budget without further delay.

    The group said that the delay in passing the INEC budget may jeopardise the preparations for the 2019 elections.

    A communiqué issued at the end of a one-day round-table meeting on the 2019 Election Budget Empasse held in Abuja, the group warned that all forms of intrigues and politics associated with the budget should cease immediately in national interest.

    The stakeholders drawn from different interests who cover the Civil Society, the political class, the media and citizens among others, condemned in strong term, the use of thugs and some security personnel to harass citizens and INEC officials.

    The group and frowned at the disruption of elections saying that the development portrays country in bad light before the international community.

    The ISDMG faulted the delay in submission of the INEC budget by the Presidency, since the budget was said to have been submitted to it since January, 2018 by the commission.

    The group noted the controversy trailing the INEC budget was unacceptable and unnecessary especially since the Executive ought to have submitted the budget to the National Assembly long before now.

    In a communiqué which was signed by Dr. Chima Amadi, ISDMG, Faith Nwadishi, Centre for Transparency Advocacy, Abdul Mahmud ,Public Interest Lawyers League,Comrade Sheriff Mulade, Center for Peace and Environmental Justice, among others, the group urged INEC to continue to be proactive by submitting their budget proposal in good time in a transparent and open manner.

    The group also recommended an urgent need to review the appropriation process especially when it involves the needs of INEC knowing the importance and role the Commission plays in the stabilisation of our democracy

    “We note the hard fact that the INEC budget is not like contracts that can be hidden from public purview as activities of INEC are open and easily verifiable by citizens, stakeholders and in fact, any interested party, ” the group said.

    It commended the openness of the budget process and urge INEC to continue with the practice.

    The group noted that this should be encouraged while insisting that Nigerians should support INEC as it strives within the ambits of integrity to conduct credible, free and fair elections in country.

    Read Also: Diezani ‘bribe’: INEC chiefs seek case transfer

    The group said: “That suspension of elections where there are infringements and security breaches as was done in the Rivers State constituency bye-election to protect lives and property and the integrity of the electoral process and elections should now be the norm.

    “All perpetrators of election violence must be severely punished according to the law to serve as

    deterrent to others.

    “The allegations of budget padding draw from mischief or an inadequate appreciation of the issues involved, therefore we recommend that all parties should strive to verify issues and INEC should operate an open door policy for these clarification.

    “We recommend also that stakeholders should utilize the quarterly stakeholders dialogue by the INEC Chairman to seek for information and clarify issues.

    ” We condemn the actions of the police and other security agencies that were used by unscrupulous politicians to disrupt the elections thereby putting the lives of INEC staff and citizens in danger.

    “This is bizarre, shameful, embarrassing, disgraceful and condemnable. We however, commend INEC for taking quick measures to suspend the election so as to protect the integrity of the election.“

  • INEC budget: It’s unfortunate NASS failed to reconvene – APC lawmakers

    Leaders of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) in the National Assembly said on Tuesday the lawmakers’ failure to reconvene for debate on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 2019 election budget would spark constitutional crisis in the country

    Speaking at a meeting with the members of the National Working Committee of the party in Abuja, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yussuf Lasun, Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan and the Majority Leader in the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, said presiding officers must reconvene the National Assembly immediately to avoid any form of sabotage for the party.

    However, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, was absent at the meeting.

    Lasun said it was unfortunate that the National Assembly could not reconvene on Tuesday as earlier agreed by the presiding officers.

    He said: “I am not particularly happy that we are not able to reconvene the National Assembly today (Tuesday) because we decided few days back that we are going to seat and consider those items that are very important and may likely hamper the function of INEC and other programs without which the implementation of the capital component of the 2018 budget would have been slightly difficult.”

    Lawan said the APC Senate Caucus and the House Caucus would continue working towards averting constitutional crisis by ensuring that the National Assembly reconvened and pass the INEC budget.