The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed optimism that its budgetary proposal for the 2019 elections will receive approval of the National Assembly as the lawmakers passed the 2018 Budget.
When asked to mention exact figures proposed by the commission, the Chief Press Secretary of the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Lawrence, told BDSUNDAY on Friday that it will be presumptuous to start mentioning figures because the budget has not been approved.
“We made a proposal but we don’t know how much will be approved. It could be the same amount or they might reduce it for one reason or another. I think it is better to let the final figures come because if the government gives us less than what we proposed, it will appear as if we are antagonising the government which we don’t want to do.
“The government has the bigger picture because there are other agencies that need resources and resources and are scarce. But I think we don’t envisage any problem. So it is not advisable to start talking about figures now,” he said.
The 2018 Budget of N9.12 trillion was jacked up from the N8.6 trillion earlier sent to the lawmakers by President Muhammadu Buhari. The budget, which was passed on Wednesday by the National Assembly, now requires the assent of President Muhammadu Buhari to become law.
Speaking further, Lawrence said: “The proposal we sent to them (National Assembly) contains all the things we need to do and how much it will cost. So if they give us all the money then we are okay but if they reduce it then we have to tackle one or two issues. I think it is better we allow them to approve it.
“We are hopeful and we have responded to the budget hearing, which the INEC chairman attended and answered questions in the National Assembly both the Senate and the House of Representatives and there was no problem in the hearing.
“So if we look at the positive outcome of the hearing I think we don’t envisage cutting down on the proposal we made. But all the same, it is better not to count your chicks before they are hatched. We look forward to full cooperation with the National Assembly and the Federal Government.”
Innocent Odoh, Abuja
