Saraki: Presidency’s delay in submitting INEC budget shows lack of foresight

Senate President Bukola Saraki says the national assembly is committed to ensuring the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is well funded to conduct the 2019 polls.

He said this on Sunday in reaction to the claim of the Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) that he was slowing down the approval of the budget request for the elections.

In a statement by Olu Onemola, his special assistant on new media, Saraki said the claim is an example of “conscientious ignorance on full display”.

He said despite the failure of the executive to submit the budget on time, the relevant committees of the national assembly are working to ensure that due process is followed in approving the president’s request.

“By now, the Nigerian people are aware that the executive branch could have submitted INEC’s 2019 election budget at the time it submitted the 2018 appropriations proposal last year,” Onemola said.

“The executive had from January till June this year to submit the budget request. However, due to a perceived lack of foresight, display of usual tardiness or an attempt to ensure that due process would not be followed, this request was submitted only a few days before the statutory national assembly annual recess.”

He further said: “Regardless of this unforced error on the part of the executive, the national assembly has continued its work on this budget.

“The joint committees are now scheduled to meet on Monday when they are expected to come up with a committee report that will be sent to the appropriations committee, which will spell out how to source the president’s virement request through the concerned MDAs.

“The senate president, the senate and the entire national assembly, are committed to ensuring that the 2019 elections receive all necessary funding. However, this should not be at the expense of due process and stated guidelines.

“Groups like the Buhari Media Organisation that have worked assiduously to attempt to scapegoat the senate president for the failure of the executive to submit INEC’s 2019 election budget on time, know that the national assembly is and has been working on this budget request through its committees.”