Head of Nigeria’s electoral body, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu says the body has received assurances that the Senate could reconvene next week to consider its budget for the 2019 elections.
The National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission said this after a meeting with the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, in the Senate building on Wednesday.
”The most important thing to say is INEC was invited to meet with the National Assembly leadership on how the proposed budget for the 2019 elections can be speedily considered and appropriated by the National Assembly,” he said.
“We have been assured of speedy passage of the budget perhaps as early as next week, N242bn is the total amount proposed.”
Earlier, Saraki had promised that he, along with his colleagues, were prepared to do what it would take to ensure that the 2019 elections went on smoothly.
“Unfortunately, yesterday’s shutdown prevented us from meeting with INEC, as scheduled, to address funding concerns. We will continue to look into the matter.”
