IGP denounces drama over budget presentation, clarifies details

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has described the disruption during the Nigeria Police Force’s 2025 budget presentation to the Joint Committees on Police Affairs and Police Institutions at the National Assembly as unnecessary and avoidable. The incident occurred on January 16, 2025, at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
In a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the IGP explained that the budget documents provided to the committees included a comprehensive version and an abridged version. Both versions contained identical figures and facts, but the abridged version used simplified language for better comprehension.
According to the IGP, committee members had unanimously agreed that he should present the abridged version since they had access to both documents.
However, Senator Onyekachi Nwoebonyi, representing Ebonyi North, arrived late and insisted on referencing the comprehensive version during the presentation.
Despite explanations from other committee members about the agreement and the consistency between the versions, the senator refused to listen and abruptly left the session.
The IGP criticized the incident as unnecessary drama that could have been avoided had the senator been receptive to the clarifications provided.
He also dismissed claims in some media reports suggesting that the Nigeria Police Force submitted two different budgetary proposals, emphasizing that both documents were identical in content.
Dr. Egbetokun highlighted the critical budgetary challenges faced by the Nigeria Police Force, including insufficient funding, reliance on a restrictive envelope budget system, and delays in fund releases. These challenges, he noted, hinder the Force’s modernization efforts and effective service delivery.
The IGP urged the public to remain supportive of the police as they work to overcome these obstacles and remain committed to professionalism and excellence in service delivery.