Reps asks INEC to forward estimates for 2019 election budget within 30 days

- Nigeria's House of Representatives is giving INEC a 30 day ultimatum to submit budget estimates for the 2019 general elections

- The House urged the commission to ensure accountability and transparency in its budget

The committee on electoral matters of Nigeria's House of Representatives on Monday, January 29, asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to forward its budget estimates for the 2019 general elections within 30 days, New Telegraph reports.

Legit.ng gathered that while addressing the session, the committee headed by Aisha Dukku gave the directive during the 2017/2018 budget defence.

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He urged the commission to ensure accountability and transparency in its budget, which is significant reform itself, with a multiplier effect on electoral reform.

Dukku also stressed the need for the commission to put necessary measures in place towards the conduct free, fair and credible elections in 2018 and 2019.

According to an earlier report by Legit.ng, the Independent National Electoral Commission said it would only comply with the amendments to the Electoral Act 2010 if lawmakers succeed in passing it into law six months before the 2019 general election.

The commission's national commissioner, Prof. Okechukwu Ibeanu, who represented the national chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, made the statement at a function at the Electoral Institute in Abuja, This Day reports.

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Ibeanu said: "INEC works with the Electoral Act. If there is a legitimate amendment to the Act, INEC will have no option than to obey, but that must happen first."

Under the proposed amendments, the National Assembly election would hold first, followed by the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections. The presidential election would be conducted last.

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Source: Legit.ng