A contentious session unfolded in the National Assembly on Thursday during the 2025 budget defense of the Nigeria Police Force, led by Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
Discrepancy Sparks Conflict
The session was disrupted when discrepancies were highlighted between the documents lawmakers received and the IGP’s live presentation. This led to an intense confrontation, with the committee chairman’s efforts to calm the situation met with resistance.
Escalation and Walkout
The disagreement escalated into a shouting match, culminating in a senator walking out in protest. After a period of chaos, order was restored, allowing the IGP to proceed with his presentation.
Call for Budgetary Reform
Egbetokun used the opportunity to once again push for the Nigeria Police Force to be exempt from the current “envelope budget” system, arguing that it severely limits the force’s capacity to tackle security issues effectively. He stressed the need for a budget that could respond more dynamically to the force’s operational demands.
Lawmakers’ Responses
The proposal to change the budgeting system received mixed reactions. Senator Abdul Ningi countered by questioning the legal standing of the “envelope” system, suggesting it has no formal ratification by the National Assembly and should remain as is.
Support for Budget Reform
However, several other lawmakers supported the idea of restructuring the budgeting process for the police towards a model that would allow for more flexibility and be more aligned with actual needs on the ground. This would potentially enable better resource allocation for addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.
This incident underscores the ongoing debates within Nigeria’s legislative body regarding budgetary practices and their impact on national security and governance. The outcomes of such discussions could significantly influence how public safety and law enforcement are funded and managed in the future.
