Tension in N’Assembly as IG Defends 2025 Budget
A heated exchange erupted at the National Assembly on Thursday during the budget defense session of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun. Tensions flared when Egbetokun began outlining funds allocated for constructing five zonal police headquarters.
Mark Esset, a House of Representatives member from Akwa Ibom, interrupted, questioning why the details presented were missing from the circulated documents. Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi from Ebonyi North also voiced concerns, asserting that senators should have access to the same document being presented.
Despite efforts to address the issue, the Chairman of the House Committee on Police Affairs, Abubakar Yalleman, overruled Nwebonyi, allowing Egbetokun to proceed. Upset, Nwebonyi exited the session amid jeers from other lawmakers.
Representative Yusuf Gagdi defended the committee’s actions, stating that parliamentary rules were followed and lawmakers should not interrupt without having the floor.
Egbetokun resumed his presentation, emphasizing the need for better funding for the police and criticizing the envelope budgetary system. He highlighted President Bola Tinubu’s decision to increase the annual recruitment quota from 10,000 to 30,000, which he said would significantly improve police operations.
He urged lawmakers to support the police in addressing the challenges posed by inadequate funding, noting the National Assembly’s acknowledgment of the Force’s financial struggles.
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