COV/USMAN MZ, JIGAWA
Jigawa State Independent Electoral Commission, JISEC, has allegedly taxed the 27 local government councils the sum of N378 million for the conduct of the forthcoming Saturday’s local council elections.
Reports from the state indicate that elections into the local Councils have been slated for the 26th of this month as the serving local council’s tenure expires on the first of July.
One of the board members of the commission who spoke to newsmen on condition of anonymity commented that the commission had budgeted the sum of N600 million as expenditure for the local council elections.
He said the commission had budgeted for of N600 million but the governor directed the local councils to partly fund the election alongside the state government.
The source disclosed that the governor agreed that the state government would pay forty per cent of the total amount while the 27 local government councils would give the remaining 60 per cent.
It explained that 60 per cent was shared among the 27 local government councils in which each local council paid N14 million.
Similarly, the payment is being made on instalments within two months of April and May amounting to N378 million.
Radio Nigeria gathered that the state government’s counterpart payment was used to award a contract for the production of election materials.
When contacted, the Acting chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission, Alhaji Adamu Ibrahim through the Public relations officer, Habibu Yusuf Adamu Babura said the officials of the commission were holding crucial meeting.
He maintained that both the Acting chairman and the commissioner’s of the agency would not to talk to journalists, but said the allegations were not true.