Jega Expresses Fear Over 2015, Says Poor Budgetary Allocation Will Affect INEC

CHAIRMAN OF INEC, PROFESSOR ATTAHIRU JEGA

ABUJA, January 26, (THEWILL) – The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega Thursday expressed fear that poor budgetary allocation for the commission could lead to a poor performance in the 2015 general elections.

Jega, who raised the alarm at the 2012 budget defence before the House of Representatives committee on electoral matters said, the envelop handed INEC by the Budget Office has compel the commission to abandon some of the critical projects aimed at laying a solid foundation for the conduct of possible bye-elections and the general elections in 2015.

"The N59 billion we requested is the comfort level that will help us get prepared for 2015 but the envelop 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," Jega said.

He said in order to improve the electoral process, a lot of investment in facilities and infrastructure towards 2015 has to be made adding that “We are worried that if adequate preparations are not made the possible bye-elections may not be possible".

In his words, “We have decided to reduce the proposed recruitment of 4000 staff to 1500 which will negatively affect the manpower demand of the commission ahead of the 2015 elections”.

Chairman of the committee, Hon. Jerry Manwe (PDP, Taraba) lamented that the N40 billion allocated to INEC was tantamount to sacrificing its independence saying, "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 leave up to the expectations of Nigerians in 2015".

Jega further disclosed that the commission would produce 70 million permanent voters card at the cost of N129 per card embedded with a microchip containing all information about a voter, while 120,000 card readers will be procured for each of the 120,000 polling units as it expects to deploy electronic voting technology in 2015.