A heated confrontation unfolded at the National Assembly on Thursday during the budget defence for the 2025 fiscal year, led by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun. The tension arose over the allocation of funds for constructing five zonal police headquarters, prompting sharp inquiries from House of Representatives member Mark Esset of Akwa Ibom, who pointed out discrepancies in the provided documentation.
Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi, representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District, joined the fray, criticizing the lack of detailed documentation and called for greater transparency and accountability. Despite his concerns, the Chairman of the House Committee on Police Affairs, Abubakar Yalleman, permitted the IG to continue, leading to Nwebonyi’s departure from the session amidst a chorus of jeers from his colleagues.
In the aftermath, Yusuf Gagdi from Plateau State expressed disapproval of the interruptions, stressed the necessity of adhering to parliamentary procedures. Once order was restored, IG Egbetokun resumed his address, advocating for increased funding and the elimination of the envelope budgetary system, which he argued hampered the police force’s effectiveness. He also revealed that President Bola Tinubu had approved a substantial increase in the annual recruitment quota from 10,000 to 30,000 officers, aimed at enhancing the operational capacity of the police.
The incident highlighted the pressing need for better communication and comprehensive documentation between the executive and legislative branches to ensure a more efficient and transparent budget defence process in the future.
