Senate committee to consider N125,000 election allowance for corps members
The Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has indicated it will consider a request by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for about N32 billion to increase allowances for corps members engaged in election duties to N125,000.
According to a report by The Cable newspaper, the assurance came during a joint session of the National Assembly Committee on Electoral Matters on Thursday in Abuja, where INEC presented its 2026 budget proposal and projected cost for the 2027 general election.
INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, told lawmakers that the commission is proposing N873.78 billion for the conduct of the 2027 polls, warning that inadequate funding could affect preparations.
He also disclosed that the commission is seeking N171 billion for its 2026 operations to cover routine activities, including bye-elections and off-cycle governorship elections.
Breaking down the proposed N873.78 billion election budget, Amupitan said N379.75 billion is earmarked for operational expenses, N92.32 billion for administrative costs, N209.21 billion for technological expenses, N154.91 billion for election capital costs, and N42.61 billion for miscellaneous items.
He explained that the estimate was prepared in line with Section 3(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, which mandates INEC to submit its budget at least one year before a general election.
On the 2026 proposal, Amupitan said the Ministry of Finance provided a budget envelope of N140 billion, while the commission’s actual requirement stands at N171 billion. The breakdown includes N109 billion for personnel costs, N18.7 billion for overheads, N42.63 billion for election-related activities, and N1.4 billion for capital expenditure.
The INEC chairman criticised the envelope budgeting model, describing it as unsuitable for the commission’s operations.
“INEC requires flexible and timely funding to effectively discharge its constitutional responsibilities,” he said, adding that the absence of a dedicated communications network remains a major operational challenge.
