The 2025 budget defence session for the Nigeria Police Force turned dramatic on Thursday as a heated dispute among lawmakers, over perceived inconsistencies in the budget, disrupted proceedings.
The tension escalated when Senator Onyekachi Nwoebonyi of Ebonyi North, a principal officer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), stormed out of the session in protest.
The Joint Committee meeting, convened to review the police budget and assess funding requests by Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, descended into chaos during discussions on the construction of five zonal police headquarters.
Hon Mark Esset from Akwa Ibom State triggered the dispute by questioning discrepancies in the budget document presented by the IGP, specifically the absence of figures referenced in his speech.
Senator Nwoebonyi, frustrated by the lack of clarity, demanded that the IGP provide complete and accurate documentation to all committee members.
When the committee chairman, Senator Abdulhamid Mallam Madori, overruled his Point of Order and allowed the IGP to proceed, Nwoebonyi voiced his disapproval, packed his belongings, and walked out amidst jeers from some House members.
The incident drew criticism from ranking lawmaker Yusuf Gagdi, who defended the committee’s adherence to parliamentary procedures.
“Members should exercise restraint and follow protocol during sessions. This behavior disrupts our collective work,” Gagdi said.
After order was restored, IGP Egbetokun addressed the session, highlighting the financial challenges faced by the police. He advocated for the removal of the police from the “envelope” budgetary system, which he described as a major impediment to securing adequate and consistent funding.
Egbetokun also announced a significant policy shift approved by President Bola Tinubu, increasing the annual police recruitment quota from 10,000 to 30,000 personnel.
“We are hopeful that with this increased recruitment, we will be better equipped to deliver on our mandate,” he stated.
The IGP reiterated that sufficient funding is crucial for the police force to effectively address Nigeria’s complex security challenges and enhance public safety.
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