President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday formally wrote the National Assembly seeking approval for over ₦500 billion supplementary budget to fund the 2019 general elections and  sundry national infrastructure.

In a letter which was read by President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki to senators at the commencement of Tuesday’s plenary, Buhari asked that the sum of ₦228,854 billion of the ₦578,319 billion worth of projects inserted by the lawmakers into the 2018 budget be vired or converted for the purpose of funding the election.

The letter tagged ‘Request for Virement and Supplementary 2018 Budget’ said the request would also fund ₦64,749 billion worth of critical projects, which the assembly had earlier cut off from the budget.

“As you are aware, the 2019 general election is scheduled to be conducted early in 2019.

“To ensure that adequate arrangements are made for free and fair elections, it has become necessary to appropriate funds to enable the relevant agencies to commence preparations. INEC and the security agencies have accordingly recently submitted their requests.

“These have been subjected to the usual budget evaluation. The aggregate cost of the elections is estimated at ₦242,445,322,600.00 but only ₦164,104,792,065.00 will be spent for urgent needs of the polls because of funds constraints,” the letter read.

It added: “In the light of prevailing fiscal constraints, I am proposing that the sum of ₦164,104,792,065.00 be provided for through virement or supplementation of the 2018 budget.

“I propose that the balance of ₦78,340,530.535.00, mostly related to personnel allowances, fueling and other costs not required until the election proper, be provided in the 2019 budget.”