The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will get N18 billion from the N2.1 trillion 2023 supplementary budget to conduct the governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi states. The elections are scheduled for November 11, 2023.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, on Monday at the State House in Abuja after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
He said the supplementary budget was approved by FEC to fund urgent issues, including N605 billion for national defence and security. He added that the security funds were needed to sustain and accelerate the gains made in security before the year ends.
He also said that N210 billion was allocated for the payment of wage awards to about 1.5 million federal employees who will receive N35,000 each for four months. Furthermore, he said that N400 billion was earmarked for cash transfer payments to 15 million households who will receive N25,000 each for three months. He explained that the cash transfers were partly funded by a $800 million loan from the World Bank and partly by the federal government.
