Strong budgetary provision made in 2018 budget for 2019 general elections—Minister
The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, has said barring any objection by the National Assembly on the budgetary provision for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conduct of 2019 election, there will be no fear of funding as every needed spending is covered during the operational expenditure calculation.
Explaining issues in response to the enquiries on the ministry’s financial provisions for the elections, the Director (Special Duties) in the Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Olukayode Adeniran, assured that “The budgetary position as I know is determined by every organ of government. So, INEC will only prepare its own budget which, I believe, goes with the national budget and the National Assembly does not normally tamper with it.
“But whatever they prepare, there are committees in the National Assembly which will look at it and they pass it. So, I don’t see any trouble in the budget of INEC for the conduct of the 2019 general elections because it is a critical year for Nigeria.”
In his remarks while delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the minister at a training workshop on ‘Leadership and conflict management’ for the chairmen of the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria, Adeniran noted that the programme would strengthen democratic institutions and the electoral process in Nigeria to ensure fair and credible elections.
Udoma was of the view that the development would contribute to the participation of a cross-section of the people, women, youths and marginalised groups. This training also seeks to support the FOISECON in order to build their capacity to conduct free and credible elections at the local government levels and how well-implemented electoral process can bring about peaceful change of power and improve their leadership skills and take on board means for preventing or mitigating the escalation of electoral violence and conflict throughout the respective electoral cycle.
He said “Let me re-emphasise that the engagement of stakeholders in this programme is in preparation for the effective conduct and coverage of the electoral processes leading to the 2019 elections.”
