Kehinde Fajobi
Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun has described the disruption during the presentation of the Nigeria Police Force’s 2025 budget at the National Assembly as “unnecessary drama that could have been avoided.”
The incident occurred on January 16, 2025, during a meeting with the Joint Committees on Police Affairs and Police Institutions.
In a statement issued on Friday by Force Public Relations Officer Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Egbetokun clarified that the disruption stemmed from a misunderstanding over the use of two versions of the budget document.
The police chief explained that both a comprehensive and abridged version of the budget, containing identical figures and facts, had been provided to the committee members.
The members had unanimously agreed that the abridged version, written in simplified language, should be presented.
However, Senator Onyekachi Nwoebonyi of Ebonyi North, who arrived late, began referencing the comprehensive version mid-session.
Despite clarifications from other committee members about the agreement and the consistency between the versions, the senator refused to listen and walked out of the meeting.
Egbetokun remarked that the disruption could have been avoided had the senator been more receptive.
“The Nigeria Police Force did not submit two different 2025 budgetary proposal documents to the joint committees, contrary to reports circulating in the media,” the statement emphasised.
The IG also highlighted ongoing challenges the police face with budget allocations, including inadequate funding and delays in fund disbursements.
He stressed that these issues continue to hinder the Force’s ability to meet its growing responsibilities.
Egbetokun urged the public to support the police in their commitment to professionalism and service delivery.