By Musa Adamu and Ikechukwu Okaforadi
Following the approval by the National Assembly (NASS) of only N143 billion out of the N189 billion requested by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the commission has adjusted its budget for 2019 General Elections to reflect the approved N143 billion.
This indication came from the Chairman, National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters, Sen Suleiman Nazif, yesterday after a closed door meeting.
The Joint Committee had adopted President Muhammadu Buhari’s version of the election expenses put at N143 billion when it directed INEC to reduce its budget to reflect the wish of the President.
Sen Nazif further disclosed that the commission had submitted a new budget reflecting the sum of N143 billion as originally requested by President Muhammadu Buhari.
To this end, he also revealed that a sub-committee had been established to look into the details of the new budget submitted by INEC.
He said the sub committee was expected to complete its assignment today.
Also speaking, a member of the committee, Sen. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi assured that the committee was determined to urgently complete work on the election budget.
He denied allegations that the committee was deliberately slowing down the process to fustrate moves to make the National Assembly to reconvene.
He said part of the reason for setting up the sub-committee was to speed up the legislative proceses for the election budget.
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