CHAIRMAN of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, on Thursday, raised the alarm over poor budgetary allocation to the commission, saying that such could lead to the failure of 2015 polls.
According to him, “the N59 billion we requested is the comfort level that will help us get prepared for 2015, but the envelope of N47.3 billion won’t serve. It is difficult to sacrifice the aspirations of Nigerians for free, fair and credible elections if we do not do our job well.
“In order to improve the electoral process, we have to make a lot of investment in facilities and infrastructure towards 2015 and to do this, we have to go back to the N59 billion. We are worried that if adequate preparations are not made, the possible bye-elections may not be possible,” he said.
The INEC boss said these during the 2012 budget defence before the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters, adding that the envelope handed over to INEC by the Budget Office left the commission with no choice but to abandon some of the critical projects aimed at laying foundation for the conduct of possible bye-elections and the general election in 2015.
He stressed further that with the development, the commission had decided to reduce its proposed recruitment of 4,000 staff to 1,500 which would negatively affect the manpower demand of the commission ahead of the 2015 elections.
While commenting on the development, the chairman of the committee, Honourable Jerry Manwe, said “there is the need to improve on the gains of the 2011 elections and if not properly funded in good time, INEC may not be able to live to expectations of Nigerians in 2015.”