Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu has told the House of Representatives that the Nigeria Police Force under his watch has been battling poor funding since January when he assumed office.
Speaking when he appeared before the House Committee on Police Affairs to defend the 2019 budget proposal of the police, the IGP said less than 20 per cent of the N25bn capital budget of the security outfit had been released by the Federal Government.
Members of the committee, while expressing their shock over the low release of funds to the police, criticized the government for poorly funding the police at a time when insecurity was the order of the day across the country.
Adamu told the committee, “On my assumption of office as the Inspector-General of Police in January 2019, I began taking determined steps, drawing from national and international policing leadership experiences, to provide the highest possible level of professional and responsible leadership for the Nigeria Police to enhance its efficiency and effectiveness.
“However, at every turn, I am confronted with the issue of inadequate funding.
“Nigeria is a large country with huge population and policing a nation as large and diverse as Nigeria requires enormous funding.
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“Also, to maintain neutrality and avoid compromises in the performance of its statutory duties, the Nigeria Police Force should obtain its funding requirements from constitutionally recognized sources.”
Acting IGP Adamu highlighted the budgets’ proposals of the police from 2014 to 2018 and how they were slashed drastically, while the amounts appropriated were not fully released.
He said, “Presently, the Police depend on the government for the provision of funds for the day-to-day operations.
“However, the annual budgetary allocation for the Force, especially with regards to capital and overhead costs, does not reflect the enormous size, scope of responsibility and actual needs of the Force.
“Arising from the limitations of funding occasioned by the budgetary constraint, most of the requirements that would enable the Force perform are never met.
“For instance, as against a capital budget estimate of N342.9bn proposed for the 2018 fiscal year, the Force was given an appropriation of N25.5bn.
He lamented that, “Appropriations in respect of the overhead cost and capital budget to the Force over the years have failed to meet the funding requirements of the police.”
It would be noted that as at 15th January 2019, the total strength of Nigerian Police stands at 301,737 personnel (made up of Police, Traffic Wardens, and Civilian Staff).
Nigerian Police Force personnel are stationed across the Federation (the Force Headquarters, 12 Zones, 37 States Commands including the FCT; 224 Area Commands, 1, 401 Divisions, 1, 759 Police Stations and over 3,846 Police Posts.
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