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2019 Polls to Cost N242bn, Buhari Tells National Assembly

Published

8 years ago

July 18, 2018

Eric

President Muhammadu Buhari has presented a supplementary budget to the National Assembly in which he sought the approval of N164bn out of the N242bn budgeted for the 2019 general elections.

Buhari said the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies would need N242bn for the elections, asking the legislature to provide N164bn through virement in the 2018 budget or supplementation, while the balance of N78bn would be covered by the 2019 budget.

Buhari, in his letter to the National Assembly, titled, ‘Request for virement and supplementary 2018 budget,’ specifically asked the legislature to re-allocate part of the N578bn voted to the projects inserted into the 2018 Appropriation Act by the lawmakers to fund the elections and critical infrastructure.

The President specifically asked the legislature not to increase the current size of the 2018 Appropriation Act from N9.21tn but to vire N228bn from the N578bn to the elections as well as the critical projects as earlier proposed by the executive in the 2018 Appropriation Bill.

President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, read the proposal at the plenary on Tuesday.

INEC to spend N189.2bn; NSAO, N4.2bn; DSS, N12bn; NSDC, N3.5bn; Police, N30.5bn; NIS; 2bn

Giving the breakdown of the running costs for the polls, Buhari said INEC needed N143, 512, 529, 445 for 2018 supplementary and N45, 695, 015,438 in 2019 budget, totalling N189, 207, 544, 893.

He said the Office of the National Security Adviser needed N3,855,500,000 for 2018 supplementary and N426,000,000 in 2019 budget, amounting to N4,281,500,000.

The Department of State Services wants N2,903,638,000 as 2018 supplementary and N9,309,644,455 in 2019 budget, totalling N12,213,282,455.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps requires N1,845,597,000 as 2018 supplementary and N1,727,997,500 in the 2019 budget, totalling N3,573,534,500.

Also, the Nigeria Police needs N11,457,417,432 as 2018 supplementary and N19,083,900,000 in 2019 budget, to get a total of N30,541,317,432.

The Nigeria Immigration Service also needs N2,628,143,320, out of which N530, 110,078 would come from 2018 supplementary and N2, 098,033,142 from the 2019 budget.

Buhari said, “As you are aware, the 2019 general election is scheduled to be conducted early in 2019. To ensure that adequate arrangements are made for free and fair elections, it has become necessary to appropriate funds to enable the relevant agencies to commence preparations. INEC and the security agencies have accordingly recently submitted their requests. These have been subjected to the usual budget evaluation. The aggregate cost of the election is estimated at N254,445,322, 600.

“However, in line with the prevailing fiscal constraints, I am proposing that the sum of N164, 104, 792, 065 be provided for through virement or supplementation of the 2018 budget. I propose that the balance of N78, 340, 530, 535, mostly related to personnel allowances, fuelling and other costs not required until election proper, be provided in their 2019 budget.”

The President said the critical projects, whose allocations were cut by the lawmakers, required N64bn, asking that the amount should also be taken out of the allocation to the inserted projects.

The lawmakers had introduced 6,403 projects into the budget amounting to N578bn.

Buhari said, “You will also recall that when I signed the 2018 Appropriation Act, I indicated the need for the reinstatement of certain cuts made to certain critical projects provided in the original executive bill. I am therefore submitting for your consideration the reinstatement of the most critical of such cuts totalling N64,749, 216, 150 which are summarised in Page 1.

“The total amount required to be provided for in the 2018 budget for the 2019 general elections and to restore the identified critical projects to the amount earlier proposed is therefore N228, 854, 800, 215. Implementing a budget of N9.12tn for 2018 is extremely challenging and, therefore, I do not consider it expedient to propose a further increase to the size of the 2018 expenditure framework to fund these very important and critical expenditure items.

“Accordingly, I invite the distinguished Senate to consider, in the national interest, relocating some of the funds appropriated for the new projects which were inserted into the 2018 budget proposal totalling N 578, 319, 951, 904 to cover the sum of N228, 854, 800, 205 required as noted above.

“A schedule setting out a comprehensive list of these inserted projects is attached to this letter for ease of your consideration. Further to the above, kindly find attached a supplementary budget and virement proposal for your consideration.”

The two chambers of the National Assembly had passed the 2018 Appropriation Bill on May 16, 2018. The legislature had increased the budget from N8.612tn as proposed by the executive to N9.12tn.

The lawmakers had said the additional N508bn was based on the agreement between the executive and the legislature based on the increase in prices of crude oil, which led to the raising of the oil benchmark from the proposed $45 to $51.

However, the President had, while assenting to the bill on June 20, complained about the adjustments made to the estimates in the budget by the legislature.

The Punch

Featured

Certificate Forgery: Group Seeks Tinubu’s Disqualification from 2027 Election

Published

21 hours ago

June 29, 2026

Eric

The Centre for Reform and Public Advocacy (CFRPA) has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Kano seeking the disqualification of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the 2027 presidential election over allegations of certificate forgery.

‎According to court documents seen by Daily Trust, the plaintiff alleged that Tinubu presented forged academic certificates from Chicago State University and a fake National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the 2023 elections.

‎‎The suit, marked FHC/K/CS/312/2026, lists Tinubu, INEC, and Chicago State University as defendants.

‎The plaintiff contended that Tinubu never attended Government College Lagos as claimed, noting that the school was established in 1974, four years after Tinubu allegedly graduated.

The CSO further argued that Tinubu does not possess a valid secondary school certificate, which is the minimum constitutional requirement to contest for the presidency.

‎It claimed that INEC had failed to act on its petition dated June 19, 2026, demanding clarification on Tinubu’s eligibility.

‎‎In its statement of claims, the group referenced a 2023 U.S. court ruling in In Re: Application of Atiku Abubakar (No. 23 CV 05099), which compelled Chicago State University to release Tinubu’s academic records.

‎The plaintiff insisted those records revealed false entries and inconsistencies, including a forged University of Cambridge General Certificate of Education.

‎The prayers asked by the plaintiff included declaration of forgery against Tinubu’s Chicago State University certificate, issuance of an order directing INEC to disqualify him from the 2027 presidential election, directing CSU to strike Tinubu’s name from its records and perpetual injunction restraining INEC from uploading Tinubu’s name as a candidate.

‎The plaintiff also submitted affidavits of non-multiplicity of action, witness statements, and letters to the NYSC and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, demanding disclaimers on the alleged fake NYSC certificate.

Featured

Lagos Island Red Cross Holds Annual Thanksgiving Service

Published

2 days ago

June 28, 2026

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

The Lagos Island Division of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, has held its 2026 Annual Thanksgiving, to express gratitude for another year of provision of succor and comfort to as many that are in need.

The thanksgiving service, which was held at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos, on the last Sunday of June, was led by the Division Coordinator, Chief (Olori) Aderonke Elegushi.

Speaking to The Boss on the activities of the Island Division of the Red Cross over the years, Olori Elegushi noted that it has been a thing of joy to be at the forefront of releasing the milk of human kindness to as many that needs it, and when they need it.

Coordinator, Lagos Island Division Nigerian Red Cross Society, Chief (Olori) Aderonke Elegushi (m), Vice Coordinator Abimbola Adeshile (2nd left), Secretary Ajibola Adu (2md right) and Saheed Ayinde Yusuf (1st right)

“This is what I love to do, and this is what the Red Cross is all about; lending helping hand and spreading love across borders, especially here in Lagos Island.

“In everything, we won’t forget our Maker, the Almighty God, through whose power we are able to do the little and much we can do. That explains why we here today to give thanks as it’s a tradition every year,” Olori Elegushi said.

Olori Elegushi also noted that as an not for profit organization, the Society seeks support well-meaning Nigerians and Lagosians to come to their aid so that the gospel of continuous lending of helping hand to the needy will continue unabated.

“We also seek the support of well-meaning individuals, organizations, and the Church in our efforts to expand our humanitarian activities. With adequate funding and partnerships, we can organize first aid and health awareness programmes for public school students, train more volunteers, equip communities with emergency preparedness skills, and carry out outreach programmes that will positively impact lives across our society,” she concluded.

Olori Elegushi, who will soon join the octogenarian club, was accompanied at the thanksgiving event, by Vice Coordinator Abimbola Adeshile, Secretary Ajibola Adu, Saheed Ayinde Yusuf, and a host of other members, dressed in their sparkling white uniform.

The Red Cross Society is an international organizational saddled with the responsibility of providing healthcare services among other humanitarian services to the people of the world. The Society is domiciled in every part of the world.

Featured

Insecurity: Adeboye, Oyedepo Urge More US Military Action in Nigeria

Published

2 days ago

June 28, 2026

Eric

The General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, and Founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, have thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for recent military action against terrorism in Nigeria, urging Washington to do more to halt the unrelenting attacks.

Both clerics spoke at the “Faith Heroes Award Gala” in Washington D.C. on June 26, 2026, organised by Save Nigeria Group USA, SNGUSA, with the US-Nigeria Civil Society Coalition.

The event honoured Trump, Congressmen Chris Smith and Riley Moore, and other advocates of religious freedom in Nigeria.

Addressing a packed audience of activists, policymakers and faith leaders at the Hilton Garden Inn, Capitol Hill, Adeboye said the scale of violence has moved beyond what any religious leader can handle alone.

“Terrorism is now at my doorstep,” he said. “If you want to help us, help us more.”

The RCCG leader, who had faced criticism for not speaking out earlier, said he chose “spiritual warfare” instead of public escalation. He noted that Trump’s December strikes on terrorist camps did not surprise him because the U.S. President had warned of consequences.