The Senate Committee Chairman on Appropriation, Senator Jibrin Barau, has revealed that the 2022 budget of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was being reconsidered for a possible upward review because of the 2023 general elections, IgbereTV reports.
He said the electoral umpire had drawn the senate’s attention to inadequate provision of the budget envelope given to them by the Federal Ministry of Finance, saying that the parliament listened because INEC needed to begin early preparation.
The lawmaker said the Committee had already met with the INEC, which he believed would be captured as they prepared to pass the 2022 budget next week.
He told reporters at the National Assembly after a meeting in Abuja.
Similarly, he promised that the National Population Commission (NPC)’s budget will be reconsidered with a view to upscaling it, given that they will embark on census next year and they needed adequate funds for a successful exercise.
Barau said the Senate was committed to making sure that these two agencies have critical assignments ahead, hence, there would be support at all costs.
He said: “We had interaction with INEC and National Population Commission in respect of complaints we had from different quarters about insufficient funds that have been provided for them in the 2022 appropriation bill.
