INEC denies budgeting N6bn for police officers’ refreshment during 2019 elections
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied reports that it budgeted N6bn to feed the police during next year’s election.
The National Assembly is looking into the N189.2bn budget submitted by the commission for the elections.
INEC has said it does not have a specific budget to feed the police, but have made provisions for all election personnel.
“INEC did not budget N6b to feed the police. There is no budget head for feeding the police,” the electoral body said via its twitter handle.
“What we do have is a budget head for feeding all election personnel election days and it covers all INEC permanent staff, ad hoc, presiding officers, supervisors, monitors, collation and returning officers and all security personnel on election duty including the Police.
”The estimated budget for this is more than 25% less than what is being bandied around and it covers all elections including bye, re runs, run off and court and ordered election. The budget covers all expenses and necessities to ensure a successful election.”
The commission cited increase in number of political parties, registered voters, high cost in logistics, exchange rates as reasons for the high budget.
The elections will run from February 16 – March 2, 2019.
