TheCable

President Muhammadu has asked the national assembly to approve the total amount needed for the 2019 polls from the 2018 budget.

Buhari’s request was contained in a letter read by Senate President Bukola Saraki on the floor of the upper legislative chamber on Wednesday.

The amount requested by the president for the election is N242 billion.

In July, Buhari had asked the lawmakers to raise N164 billion out of the N242 billion in the 2018 through “virement” and add the balance of N78 billion in the 2019 budget.

But in his letter, Buhari argued that approving the total sum would ensure the polls are not affected by any delay in the passage of the 2019 budget.

“In the light of the current realities, and in order to ensure that the 2019 elections are not affected by any delays in the passage into law of the 2019 budget, accept this kind suggestion,” the letter read.

“I therefore wish to formally request that the total amount of N242,445,322,600 requested INEC, and the security agencies, be considered for inclusion in my virement request under 2018 appropriation act.”