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INEC To Receive N18 Billion For Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi Polls
The Federal Government agreed to pay N35,000 each to about 1.5 million employees of the Federal Government for September
Abuja, Nigeria – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is set to receive a significant allocation of N18 billion from the 2023 supplementary budget to ensure the successful conduct of the governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi states.
The upcoming elections will be financed from the N2.1 trillion 2023 supplementary budget, as confirmed by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu.
Bagudu made this announcement on Monday at the State House in Abuja, following the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting that took place on the same day.
The polls are scheduled to take place on November 11, 2023, and the funds will be instrumental in facilitating the electoral process.
“Equally, N18 billion was provided for the Independent National Electoral Commission to support them in the conduct of the Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo elections,” he noted.
According to him, the approval of the supplementary budget was to address urgent issues.
He said FEC “approved the sum of N2,176,791,286,033 as supplementary budget and this supplementary budget is to fund urgent issues including N605 billion for national defence and security.
“This is to sustain the gains made in security and to accelerate and these are funds that are needed by the security agencies before the year runs out.”
“Equally the sum of N210 billion is provided for the payment of wage Awards. In negotiation with the Nigeria Labour Congress,” Bagudu added.
“The Federal Government agreed to pay N35,000 each to about 1.5 million employees of the Federal Government for September, October, November, and December 2023.
“And that amounts to about N210 billion which has been approved and also N400 billion as Cash Transfer payments.
“You may recall that the Federal Government secured a $800m loan from the World Bank to pay cash transfers of N25,000 to 15 million households. The $800 million is for two months: October and November. The President graciously approved that an additional month should be funded by the federal government and that is what this N100 billion is for.”