PAACA endorses INEC’s N126bn budget

The Peering Advocacy and Advancement Center in Africa (PAACA) has expressed strong support for the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) proposed N126 billion budget for 2025, calling it a crucial step toward ensuring credible elections in Nigeria.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, PAACA’s Executive Director, Ezenwa Nwagwu, commended INEC for its transparent budget presentation to the National Assembly, providing a detailed breakdown of expenses required to effectively administer electoral processes.

“INEC’s proposed budget reflects the reality of electoral management in Nigeria,” Nwagwu noted, citing the need to fund voter registration, off-cycle elections, and replace damaged materials.

He added that over N85 billion of the budget would go toward personnel costs, exacerbated by the recent minimum wage adjustments.

Addressing misconceptions about 2025 not being an election year, Nwagwu clarified that INEC must prepare for 12 off-cycle elections, including the Anambra governorship and FCT area council polls. Beyond elections, INEC is also tasked with ongoing responsibilities such as constituency delimitation, political party regulation, and voter registration.

“Over 440 BVAS machines, ballot boxes, and voting cubicles destroyed in attacks must be replaced. Inflation and rising operational costs further underscore the necessity of the proposed funding,” he explained.

PAACA urged the federal government to ensure the timely release of funds to avoid last-minute disruptions. “Delays in disbursing funds undermine election preparedness and create operational bottlenecks,” Nwagwu warned.

The organization also called on the National Assembly to approve INEC’s budget without unnecessary cuts, emphasizing that adequate funding is critical to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.

“Credible elections are the foundation of good governance. Supporting INEC financially is not just an obligation but a commitment to safeguarding our democratic processes,” PAACA concluded.

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