SENATOR WALKS OUT DURING POLICE BUDGET DEFENCE
The 2025 budget defence of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), led by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, descended into chaos at the National Assembly on Thursday as lawmakers clashed over inconsistencies in budget documentation.
Tensions rose when IGP Egbetokun presented the allocation for constructing five zonal police headquarters. However, Mark Esset, a member of the House of Representatives from Akwa Ibom, interrupted, questioning why the details in the IGP’s presentation were missing from the documents distributed to lawmakers.
Deputy Whip Peter Nwebonyi (Ebonyi North, APC) expressed similar frustrations, noting that the documents lawmakers received did not align with the presentation. “We are here to serve Nigerians, and Nigerians should see us as a serious institution,” Nwebonyi stated, stressing the importance of transparency and accountability.
The session became heated when the Chairman of the House Committee on Police Affairs, Abubakar Yalleman, overruled Nwebonyi’s Point of Order, allowing the IGP to continue. This decision incited further discord, leading Nwebonyi to storm out of the session amidst jeers from fellow lawmakers.
The incident underscores lingering concerns about transparency in government budgeting processes.
