The Federal Government has said N18bn would be given to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo gubernatorial elections.

Atiku Bagudu, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, made the disclosure after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the State House, on Monday.

Speaking of the urgency of the requested N2.1 trillion 2023 supplementary budget, Bagudu noted that INEC expects the election funds to be taken from the supplementary budget.

“Equally, N18 billion was provided to support INEC in the conduct of the November 11, Governorship elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa.

“Also provision of N8 billion was included in the supplementary budget for the take-off of the newly created ministries like the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy”, Bagudu disclosed.