IGP Clarifies Budget Disruption at National Assembly

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has provided clarification regarding the disruption that occurred during the Nigeria Police Force’s 2025 budget presentation to the Joint Committees on Police Affairs and Police Institutions at the National Assembly on January 16, 2025.

In a statement issued on Friday, Egbetokun said the drama could have been avoided. The disruption, which unfolded during the session, was sparked by a disagreement over the version of the budget to be presented, with one senator refusing to adhere to an earlier unanimous decision made by committee members.

Before the presentation began, the IGP had provided the committee members with two versions of the 2025 police budget: a comprehensive version and an abridged version, both containing the same data and figures. The only difference was that the abridged version used simplified language for easier comprehension.

According to Egbetokun, all committee members had access to both documents before the session and had agreed that the IGP would present the abridged version. However, Senator Onyekachi Nwoebonyi (Ebonyi North), who arrived late to the session, began referencing the comprehensive version while the IGP was presenting the abridged one.

Despite repeated explanations from other committee members that both documents contained the same information and that the decision to use the abridged version had been made earlier, the senator persisted in referencing the comprehensive version and abruptly left the session.

The IGP expressed regret over the incident, calling it avoidable had the senator been open to the clarifications offered. He added that the Nigeria Police Force did not submit two different budget proposals to the National Assembly, as some media outlets had reported.

In his statement, Egbetokun also addressed the broader issue of funding challenges faced by the police. He noted that the Force continues to grapple with inadequate budget allocations and delays in the release of funds, which have hindered its ability to effectively address its growing responsibilities.
The IGP has called for understanding, stressing that such disruptions should not detract from the important issues at hand, including the need for adequate funding to support the police in carrying out its duties.

Meanwhile, the National Assembly’s Joint Committees on Police Affairs and Police Institutions have yet to release a formal statement on the incident. However, sources within the committee have expressed support for Egbetokun’s clarification, stating that the disruption was an isolated incident and did not reflect the broader goals of the budget session.