…Says National ID card not feasible in elections
The Independent National Electoral Commission is to spend N19.1bn for elections in 2017, its Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has said.
Yakubu, spoke while presenting the Commission’s N45 billion 2017 budget before the Hon. Aisha Dukku- headed House Committee on Electoral Matters Monday.
According to him, INEC has drawn up a strategic plan in preparations for the 2019 general elections, while the financial implication is being worked out.
The early preparation, he said, is to ensure readiness for the polls and the strategic plan for the general elections is already being discussed at the three levels of government, especially with the executive arm of government.
Yakubu also said because the ongoing harmonisation of databases is yet to be concluded. the use of the National Identity cards for the polls, may not be feasible,
A supplementary budget request would be submitted later in 2017, for the Implementation of the strategic plan, Yakubu said.
His words: “At this point, we cannot put a figure on the budget for the elections (2019) until we complete the process of validating the strategic plan. Therefore, we are likely to approach the executive and the National Assembly for supplementary budget in this 2017.
“The supplementary aspect should incorporate something for the elections and in 2018, we will have it in the main proposals.”
“N20.9 billion of the commission’s N45 billion budget is proposed for personnel costs, N2.3 billion proposed for capital projects, while N19.1 billion is proposed for elections that would hold in 2017.
“Fortunately, we do not have many elections this year. Apart from Anambra State, where there will be a governorship election, there are no numerous elections”, he said.
He said in 2016, the Commission, spent about N24 billion on elections, including re-run elections, across the country.
On the use of the identity cards for elections, Yakubu said there is a policy in place, mandating all agencies with individual data bases, to harmonise such data with the national identity card and that the Office of the Vice President is coordinating the exercise.
He further states: “That process has not been concluded. INEC today has the largest data base in the country with 70million registered voters. That is a huge figure, much larger than when you talk about the population of many African countries put together”.
A member of the committee, Jonathan Gaza Gbewfi commended the early preparation for the 2019 polls, but however observed that the legislature ought to have been consulted on the strategic plan.
“We are the elected representatives of the people. Those in the executive are mostly appointed officers. You have to start talking with the representatives of the people first on whatever plan you have for elections,” Gbewfi said.

Okay

we are spending billions to elect looters.

We're using our money to call on thieves to come and rob us...

Outrageous.ontop politicians that will come and steal.