Alieu Momarr Njai, chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission, has blamed the Barrow government for the delay in voter registration.

Mr Njai, who appeared before the National Assembly Select Committee on Lands, Regional Affairs and Ombudsman on Tuesday, said the Barrow government is not cooperating in the current standoff between IEC and Gambia Public Procurement Authority (GPPA).

He told lawmakers that the postponement of the voter registration was due to lack of funds as GPPA delay approving the procurement budget.

He said the Commission’s budget is about 153 million dalasi. 

Mr Njai added that a temporary arrangement to acquire loan from Zenith Bank through the Ministry of Finance was not approved by the government.

The electoral chief said the Commission has awarded the bidding contract for on-the-spot voter registration to Canadian company, Electoral Service International,

at the cost of 151 million dalasi.