With less than a fortnight to go before the upcoming seventh general election, the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) has requested an additional supplementary budget of nearly 10 billion Birr to support the ongoing election process.
If approved, the supplement would bring the Board’s total budget for the year to more than 20 billion Birr.
Members of Parliament’s Plan, Budget, and Finance Standing Committee held discussions earlier this week with at least five democratic institutions, including NEBE, regarding their budgetary needs.
Although The Reporter and several private media outlets were barred from entering the parliamentary compound, information obtained indicates that multiple democratic institutions have significantly increased their budget requests for the new fiscal year, set to begin in July 2026.
From The Reporter Magazine
Ethiopia’s seventh general election is scheduled for June 1, 2026. So far, more than 50 million voters have registered, with approximately 25 million of them in the Oromia region, according to the Oromia Regional Security Bureau.
During the meeting, NEBE’s Chair Melatwork Hailu requested additional funding, citing the possibility of a second round of elections, which may not be accommodated within the June 1 schedule due to security challenges or contested results in certain areas.
She also cited several cost drivers, including post-election activities, office renovations, rising warehouse rental costs, stakeholder consultations, auditing processes, inclusion of women and persons with disabilities, fuel price increases, and other operational expenses.
From The Reporter Magazine
The Board reports that 47 political parties have officially registered, and over 195,000 personnel have been deployed to oversee registration and voting. Election officials argue the scope of operations demands a vast amount of funding.
However, concerns have been raised by election officials and political parties, who claim that the Board has not disbursed funds in a timely manner. Several political parties expressed grievances last week, stating that NEBE failed to release regular annual funding and financial support to parties and candidates ahead of the election.
The Board chairperson this week emphasized the necessity of early preparation, particularly for a potential second round of elections, stressing that planning must begin immediately.
In a related parliamentary session, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) also faced scrutiny over its proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Members of the committee questioned a reported 290 percent proposed budget increase compared to last year.
The Commission has requested 753 million Birr from the government treasury, while its leaders are hoping for an additional 402 million Birr from external donors, bringing the total to over 1.1 billion birrs.
EHRC Chief Commissioner Birhanu Adelo raised concerns about operational challenges, including the lack of housing for commissioners. He also expressed frustration with what he described as a lack of cooperation from the Federal Housing Corporation to provide housing for the commissioners appointed by the parliament.
Even a formal request from House Speaker Tagesse Chafo did not receive a response from the Corporation, according to Birhanu.
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