A contentious session unfolded at the National Assembly on Thursday during the defence of the 2025 Nigeria Police budget.
The presentation by Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun sparked a heated debate among lawmakers, culminating in a brief walkout by a senator.
Disputed Budget Presentation
The dispute began when two lawmakers raised concerns that the IGP’s presentation did not correspond with the budget documents provided to them earlier. Efforts by the committee chairman to allow the IGP to proceed while the discrepancies were addressed drew strong opposition, leading to a shouting match that briefly disrupted proceedings.
Order was eventually restored, allowing the IGP to complete his presentation.
Call for Budget Reforms
In his presentation, the IGP reiterated his demand for the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to be removed from the envelope budget system, which allocates a fixed funding ceiling for government agencies. He argued that this framework severely limits the police’s capacity to address pressing national security challenges effectively.
“The envelope budget system is restrictive and unsuited for an institution like the Nigeria Police Force, which requires flexible, needs-based funding to respond to dynamic security challenges,” the IGP stated.
Lawmakers’ Reactions
The proposal sparked a mixed response from lawmakers. Senator Abdul Ningi dismissed the envelope system as lacking legal backing and asserted that it was never ratified by the National Assembly. He suggested its continuation as the norm unless a formal policy change is introduced.
Other lawmakers supported a review of the budgeting model, advocating for a shift toward a more responsive and flexible funding structure for the police to meet the nation’s security demands.
The session highlighted growing calls for reforms in the budgeting process for critical sectors like security, with the debate likely to shape future funding frameworks for the police force.