Victor Ezeja
As Nigeria prepares for the 2023 general elections the Federal Government has allocated N173 billion to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to fund all electoral expenses.
Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, disclosed this during the public presentation of the details of the 2023 budget on Wednesday in Abuja.
The Minister disclosed the sum while giving breakdown of sectoral allocations in the 2023 budget on Wednesday.
It would be recalled that N350 billion was approved for the Commission for the conduct of the election.
However, the electoral body has budgeted another N50 billion for its annual budget in 2023, an increment of N10 billion compared to the 2022 budget which was N40 billion as approved by the National Assembly.
Meanwhile, the Commission has taken delivery of the last batch of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BIVAS) in preparation for the election.
Pictures that went viral on Wednesday showed the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, inspecting the BIVAS consignment upon arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, in company of the Commission’s staff, officials of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company, Customs and airport security.
In a statement signed by the INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Barr. Festus Okoye, the Commission said it created four airport hubs in Abuja, Kano Lagos and Port Harcourt to ensure smooth delivery of the BIVAS machines to all states across the nation.
Okoye said that with the arrival of the last batch, the electoral body has taken delivery of an adequate number of BIVAS for all polling units across the nation.
The statement reads: “ln furtherance of the preparations for the 2023 General Election, the Commission, yesterday, 3rd January 2023 received the last consignment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation (BVAS) machines with 52 days to the election.
“The Commission’s Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, National Commissioners and senior officials of the Commission were at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to receive the BVAS. Officials of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) and airport security officials were at the airport to receive the INEC team.
“To facilitate the smooth delivery of the machines, the commission created tour airport hubs in Abuja, Kano, Lagos, and Port Harcourt. Over the last four months, several flights delivered the BIVAS to the designated airports for movement to States of the federation ahead of the elections.
“With the arrival of the last fight in Abuja yesterday, the Commission has now taken delivery of the required number of the BIVAS for all the polling units in the country and extra machines in line with our contingency provisions for all critical election materials.
“The Commission appreciates the support of all Nigerians in its determination to conduct a free, fair, credible, transparent, and inclusive 2023 General Election facilitated by the deployment of technology.”
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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