A budget defence session between the Joint Police Affairs Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives and the Nigeria Police Force, led by Inspector-General Kayode Egbetokun, became heated on January 16, 2025.
The conflict began when disagreements arose over the police’s proposed budget, escalating into a heated exchange that led to a dramatic walkout by Senator Onyekachi Nwoebonyi (Ebonyi North).
The tension started when Egbetokun began presenting the Police’s 2025 plans, including the construction of five zonal police headquarters. He was interrupted by Mark Essiet, a member of the House from Akwa Ibom State, who pointed out discrepancies between the IGP’s presentation and the official documents provided to lawmakers.
Essiet was supported by Senator Nwoebonyi, who demanded that the IGP present the correct documents to all committee members. Nwoebonyi, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), insisted on transparency and uniformity in the documents shared, calling out the discrepancies as unacceptable.
“I should have access to the same document the IGP is reading. What I have is different from his presentation. This is unacceptable,” Nwoebonyi declared. He further emphasized the need for order and clarity in the session, stressing the importance of following parliamentary procedures.
However, the majority of the committee rejected Nwoebonyi’s demand, with Chairman Abdulhamid Ahmed ruling that Egbetokun could continue with his presentation. Angered, Nwoebonyi stormed out, exchanging words with some House members who mocked him as he left.
Once the session calmed, Representative Yusuf Gagdi, Chairman of the House Navy Committee, defended the committee’s decision, arguing that the IGP should proceed with his presentation, following parliamentary rules.
Egbetokun later lamented the police force’s underfunding, calling for the removal of the police from the “envelope” budgeting system to ensure more reliable funding. He also discussed a presidential approval to increase the police’s recruitment quota from 10,000 to 30,000 officers, which he believes will strengthen the force’s ability to address the nation’s security challenges.
“We are optimistic that with this increase in recruitment, the police will be better equipped to meet the growing demands of national security,” said Egbetokun.
