Election budget and the right not to vote

So much furore has been created by the news that the 2019 elections are budgeted to cost over N250 Billion. The constitutional right to vote which gives citizens a powerful tool with which to select political leaders also comes with a right not to vote for candidates who may not represent their interests. In Nigerian […]

So much furore has been created by the news that the 2019 elections are budgeted to cost over N250 Billion. The constitutional right to vote which gives citizens a powerful tool with which to select political leaders also comes with a right not to vote for candidates who may not represent their interests. In Nigerian there is so much focus on the obligation to vote and so little on the on the obligations of government to facilitates a better life for citizens. This is why rather than seek legitimacy through selfless good governance and solid achievements, Nigerians politicians prefer to seek legitimacy through defective and over-expensive electoral process. When government consistently fails in its duty and voters don’t see any worthy candidate they are not refusing to participate in the election, they are participating by exercising their right not to vote. 

As far as such voters are concerned whoever wins the election they will be unhappy with the result. It is similar to asking a vegetarian whether he wants chicken or beef for dinner! Voting is not compulsory and not exercising the right to vote is in itself a right!. The budget for the 2019 elections is further evidence (as if any were needed) that our democracy is too expensive and our political leaders are far more concerned with their own affairs than matters of public interest. Reports by the National Institute for Legislative Studies declare that Nigeria’s elections are amongst the most expensive in the world, and are the highest in Africa despite a lower number of registered voters compared to other countries. 

To put President Buhari’s request for N242.4 billion for the election into perspective it represents a 19% increase in the figure spent in 2015 and is more than the capital budget of any MDA in the 2018 budget. The capital expenditure budget for health (N71.11 billion) education 61.73 billion), and water resources (N95.11 billion) is disgraceful in a nation where epidemics have become a regular occurrence; which has the highest number of children out of school in the world; and in which the majority of the population have no access to pipe-borne drinking water. 

A breakdown of the election budget shows that the Office of the National Security Adviser will collect N3.4 billion, the Department of State Services 2.9 billion, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps 1.84 billion, Nigeria Police Force 11.45 billion, and Nigerian Immigration Service 503 million. Quite absurdly the police claim they need millions for feeding dogs and horses, when just recently their men went on street riot to protest non-payment of their allowances! Although no Justification was given for this massive increase in election cost some assumptions can be made. Since most of our election material are inexplicably imported and under this government the exchange rate has dropped drastically by more than 100% (from N150 to a dollar to N320 to the dollar) the currency devaluation means the cost of election will increase. 

That aside there is really is no moral justification for this increase in election spending. It beggars belief that the Nigerian immigration Service requires money for elections. What could they possibly be doing that is not their normal job? Also monies are to be given to the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA). Nigerians recall that the former NSA Sambo Dasuki has been kept in detention despite a plethora of court pronouncements ordering his release. His purported offence is sharing funds on behalf of the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation. The NSA is supposed to be Chief Adviser to the President on National Security. He participates in meetings of the National Security Council and other deliberations on security matters. There is simply no justification for the holder of the office to spend funds during election time. It’s pure hypocrisy for this to be happening under a government which prides itself on its much touted change mantra and intention to establish integrity in governance. 

The truth is that the function of the NSA varies from one administration to another and depends on the style and management philosophy of the incumbent president. Since President Buhari has not enunciated any philosophy we can only wait to see what the NSA intends to do with such humongous funds.  The recent Ekiti election shows that less than 55% of Nigerians ever some out to vote. This is hardly surprising. Democracy has not yielded any benefits to the populace other than what they get paid for their votes. In every multiple choice examination there is always one option which says “none of the above”.  It’s synonymous with the right to vote or not to vote. In a situation where the majority of eligible voters do not participate in elections and so many permanent voters’ cards remain uncollected as a result, one can only imagine what the election budget would be when Nigerians actually believe in their democracy?