A tense confrontation unfolded in the National Assembly on Thursday during the 2025 budget defense session, as Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun presented the Nigeria Police budget.
The session became heated when two lawmakers pointed out discrepancies between the IGP’s presentation and the documents previously circulated to them.
Efforts by the committee chairman to allow the IGP to continue while resolving the concerns sparked strong resistance, leading to a loud exchange. The disagreement escalated, culminating in one senator walking out in protest.
Calm was eventually restored, and the IGP resumed his presentation. He reiterated his persistent appeal for the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to be exempted from the restrictive "envelope budget system," arguing that the current framework undermines the Force’s capacity to effectively address national security challenges.
Senator Abdul Ningi, however, countered that the envelope budgeting system “is neither a legal entity nor ratified by the National Assembly and should therefore remain the standard approach.”
Meanwhile, other lawmakers supported the idea of revisiting the police budgeting process, advocating for a transition to a more flexible and needs-based funding model to better address the Force’s operational challenges.
