2023 Elections: INEC state offices accessing cash allocations from CBN – Yakubu
The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has said that the commission’s state offices are already accessing the cash made available by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for election purpose.
Yakubu stated this during a meeting with leaders of Foreign Observation Missions on Wednesday.
INEC had presented its cash requirement for prosecuting the forthcoming elections to the CBN, as requested by the apex bank.
The commission said even though it does most of its payments through online transfers, some specific services had to be paid for in cash.
However, the INEC chairman said despite the challenges bedevilling the country as it prepares for election, the commission had played its part in ensuring smooth election.
One of such move was the cash assessment, noting that the CBN had made available small cash to carry out election activities which the state offices of INEC are currently assessing.
Yakubu said: “This election is being conducted under some challenges and circumstances which you have already heard of the fuel situation in the country, naira crisis and the security issues. But we went out of our way to mobilise every national institution for these elections.
“We have talked to the oil national company. We have made an arrangement for the supply of fuel for the vehicles moving personnel and materials for the election, especially with the boat owners and the road transport workers. We are very happy with the arrangement we have made with them.
“For the cash matter, we need a little bit of money in cash. Again, we engaged with the CBN and it has made available the small amount of cash that is required to pay for services that we cannot pay for electronic transfer. So all the state offices are accessing the cash for the basic purposes. The bulk of payment is by electronic transfer and we do so for services as well.
“On security, we have been in touch with security agencies. It is their responsibility to secure the environment for the elections.”
The INEC Chairman reassured Nigerians that the elections would hold as planned.
He said, “I want to assure and reassure you that the elections will hold on Saturday, February 25, for the presidential and National Assembly elections. And two weeks later, we will hold the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections.”
