Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has called for the commission to be funded directly from the Federation Account, arguing that such a move would enhance its financial autonomy, improve operational efficiency and strengthen the credibility of elections in Nigeria.
Amupitan made the proposal on Thursday in Abuja during the public presentation of Shadows: Protest Essays on Africa’s Most Consequential Country (1999–2023), a two-volume book authored by ThisDay Managing Director, Eniola Bello.
According to the INEC chairman, although the Constitution places the electoral commission on the first-line charge of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, the current funding arrangement still subjects it to the annual budget and appropriation process, limiting its operational independence.
“Experience over the years has shown that as long as INEC is still subject to the normal envelope system and the processes of appropriation, having to go to the National Assembly, it is very difficult to operate in such a situation without wasting your time,” Amupitan said.
He noted that INEC’s responsibilities extend beyond conducting presidential and National Assembly elections to include governorship and state assembly elections, voter registration, political party registration and regulation, as well as maintaining the national voters’ register.
Amupitan argued that governorship and state assembly elections often cost more to conduct than presidential and parliamentary polls, making the existing funding framework inadequate for the commission’s expanding constitutional responsibilities.
“It is for this reason we feel that although the Constitution tried to place INEC on the first-line charge, it is not strong enough.
“INEC should come as part of the Federation Account so that we can have seamless operations and what we call operational efficiency,” he said.
The INEC chairman also advocated further amendments to the Electoral Act to strengthen the commission’s oversight of political parties. He said empowering INEC to ensure compliance with party constitutions, the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act would reduce the volume of pre-election disputes.
He added that the commission is considering introducing a mediation mechanism to resolve internal party conflicts within three months and proposed that all political party-related disputes be concluded at least one year before a general election to prevent prolonged litigation from disrupting the electoral process.
