A heated exchange rocked the National Assembly on Thursday during the budget defence session for the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) as Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, presented the 2025 budget proposal.
Henzodaily gathered that tensions flared when two lawmakers questioned discrepancies between the Inspector-General’s presentation and the documents provided to the legislators.
Efforts by the committee chairman to proceed with the presentation while the issue was addressed drew resistance, culminating in a heated shouting match. The disagreement escalated, leading to a senator staging a walkout.
Resuming his presentation after order was restored, Egbetokun reiterated his call for the removal of the NPF from the restrictive envelope budget system.
“The envelope system limits the Police Force’s ability to effectively tackle the myriad of national security challenges we face today. We need a flexible funding model that aligns with our operational demands,” the IGP argued.
While some lawmakers supported Egbetokun’s call for reform, others pushed back, emphasizing the need for adherence to existing frameworks.
Senator Abdul Ningi argued against changing the envelope system, describing it as the “normative approach.”
“The envelope is not a legal entity, and it was never ratified by the National Assembly. It is a tool, not a rule,” Ningi asserted, defending the current system.
Other senators expressed openness to reviewing the police funding process, suggesting a transition to a needs-based budget t