By Adedapo Adesanya
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr Mahmood Yakubu, has said the electoral umpire will require about N305 billion to successfully conduct the 2023 general elections.
He disclosed this during a meeting with the Senate Committee on Appropriation at the National Assembly on Monday.
The INEC boss also noted that the amount will enable the commission to prepare for the polls in less than two years’ time and purchase all the election materials needed and also cover several bye-elections across the country.
He, however, stated that the agency has already received N100 billion out of the required amount for the elections.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Mr Jibrin Barau, has disclosed that the 2022 budget will be laid, debated, and passed on Tuesday, December 21.
There is also no word on whether President Buhari has written and forwarded a letter to the National Assembly on his decision to give or withdraw his assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
The 30-day deadline stipulated by the constitution for the President to respond to the bill expired on Sunday, December 19.
This has raised criticism from many quarters including the Rivers State Governor, Mr Nyesom Wike who called for the National Assembly to override President Buhari by implementing two-third of the two chambers to veto the President’s decline.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly is scheduled to commence its Christmas and New Year holidays from Tuesday, December 21.
