The Independent National Electoral Commission on Wednesday, October 21, revealed that a total of N114, 058, 943, 747.48 billion was appropriated for the 2015 general elections.
The post-election report by the Commission revealed that while over N108.9bn was appropriated for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the general elections between 2014 and 2015, the estimated assistance from development partners was N5, 207, 260, 433.55billion.
The N5.2billlion from development partners came through the sponsorship of workshops, seminars, conferences, enlightenment programmes and engagement of consultants.
The report, which was unveiled by the acting INEC chairperson, Mrs. Amina Bala Zakari, also noted that the decision of former President Goodluck Jonathan to concede power gave credibility to the 2015 presidential election.
According to INEC, the 232-page document with nine chapters, is the first time in Nigeria that the report is produced three months after an election.
The report said: “More specifically, the 2015 general election was funded from two major sources, the consolidated national budgetary appropriation and assistance from development partners.”
According to a breakdown of the funds appropriated for the polls, N14bn was appropriated for ad hoc staff honoraria, transport for ad hoc staff was N4.6bn, feeding of security officials was put at N1.8bn, while feeding of election officials was N1.25bn.
The presidential/governorship/runoffs/other rescheduled elections got N15.7bn while N2.5bn was appropriated for procurement of utility and special utility vehicles.
The cost of ballot papers was put at N8.4bn, and ballot boxes at N5.02bn. N1.68bn was appropriated for voting cubicles, while insurance for INEC staff and ad hoc staff got N1.2bn.
