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The National Assembly will, on Tuesday next week,
break their long vacation to hold an impromptu plenary session to
consider the N74 billion request of the chairman of the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The lawmakers will also be screening three new
ministers that were requested by President Goodluck Jonathan. Atahiru
Jega, the INEC chairman, had last week said his commission urgently
requires N74billion to conduct a new voters’ registration and perfect
other aspects of the plan for a credible free and fair election in
January next year. Meanwhile, the lawmakers had just begun a two month
long break that was supposed to terminate on 29 September. The
spokesperson of the senate, Ayogu Eze, confirmed that the lawmakers
have resolved to reconvene on Tuesday next week to specifically
consider the request of INEC.

“From our own calculation, clearly we will need N74
billion,” Mr. Jega had said, adding that the commission have tendered
the request before the executive. Mr Jega said that up to 50% of the
sum would be used to purchase 120 000 units of voter registration
machines. He added that part of the fund will be applied to voter
education, employee training and allowances, and improving the working
conditions of the state chapters of INEC. He noted that the most of the
equipment used for the last election were substandard and could not be
applied to the current process if the commission was to achieve a
credible election. According to Mr Jega, the required amount must be
made available to the commission before 11 August to ensure optimal
performance by the commission.

New ministers

Although the senate spokesman confirmed the senate
has received the nomination of three additional ministers, to be
screened by the senate when the reconvenes, he could not immediately
confirm the identities of the nominee ministers were. One of the
nominee ministers are however expected to fill the Power Ministry that
has no substantive minister. The others are expected to fill the junior
minister positions in the Federal Capital Territory Ministry and either
the Petroleum Ministry or Foreign Affairs. Mr Eze added that the change
in plans was in line with their initial pledge to provide the required
legislative support to INEC ahead of the 2011 elections. Mr. Eze made
the pledge on behalf of the senate last week, shortly before they
embarked on the long vacation. The senate is however calling off its
vacation for the second time in four months. The senate had in April
adjusted its break to screen the current ministers.