The National Assembly has approved a D61.9 million cut to the Independent Electoral Commission’s (IEC) proposed 2027 budget, reducing its allocation from D669.7 million to approximately D607.8 million ahead of a busy electoral year.
The reduction affects funding for items including fuel and lubricants, election materials, training, allowances and travel. The cuts prompted concerns among lawmakers about whether the commission would have sufficient resources to organise elections across the country.
During debate on the budget estimates, the National Assembly Member for Central Badibou questioned the decision to reduce funding for fuel and lubricants, warning that the move could affect the IEC’s ability to carry out its duties during the parliamentary elections scheduled for April 2027.
He appealed to the Minority Leader, who chairs the Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC), to reconsider the reductions, pointing to the extensive travel required to organise elections nationwide.
“If you reduce their fuel and lubricants for this, I hope we will be able to have a successful National Assembly election,” he cautioned.
The FPAC chairman defended the committee’s recommendations, arguing that the IEC’s original budget request represented a substantial increase over its 2026 allocation.
According to the chairman, the commission had proposed a 2027 budget that was 32.5 per cent higher than the previous year’s allocation. He said FPAC had recommended an increase of about D113 million while also identifying areas where expenditure could be trimmed without undermining the IEC’s core responsibilities.
He added that the proposed savings followed a detailed examination of the commission’s spending plans and consultations with IEC officials. According to him, both sides had identified opportunities to reduce expenditure linked to the parliamentary and local government elections.
“If you are telling us to still further reduce that, that will fall far short of what has been recommended,” he said in defence of the committee’s position.
The budget decision comes as the IEC prepares for three rounds of elections in quick succession in 2027. Parliamentary elections are scheduled for April, followed by councillor elections in May and mayoral and chairperson elections in June.
The demanding schedule is expected to require extensive logistical planning, including the deployment of personnel, transportation of election materials and coordination of polling activities across the country.
After the debate, the Speaker put the amended estimates to a vote. Lawmakers approved the proposed reduction of D61,907,375, bringing the IEC’s 2027 allocation down to D607,797,083.
The decision leaves the commission with a smaller budget to manage its electoral responsibilities during a year in which three separate elections are planned within three months. The debate has highlighted concerns over whether the approved funding will be sufficient to meet the operational demands of the electoral calendar.
How the IEC deploys its available resources and manages the demands of the three elections will determine the extent to which the cuts will impact the commission’s preparations.
