A tense and disruptive scene unfolded in the National Assembly on Thursday during the Nigeria Police’s 2025 budget defence session, as lawmakers clashed over procedural issues, culminating in a walkout by Senator Onyekachi Nwoebonyi of Ebonyi North.
The Joint Committee, which was tasked with reviewing the budget and funding requests for the police, was thrown into disarray as the dispute intensified.
The trouble started when Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun began outlining the police force’s budget, specifically regarding the planned construction of five zonal police headquarters. Representative Mark Esset of Akwa Ibom interrupted, pointing out that critical figures were missing from the budget document presented to committee members.
Senator Nwoebonyi, frustrated by the lack of proper documentation, demanded that the IGP provide all relevant details to the lawmakers. However, the Committee Chairman overruled his objection and allowed Egbetokun to continue with his presentation, sparking further tension.
In a dramatic move, Senator Nwoebonyi gathered his belongings and stormed out of the session, exchanging words with some House members who heckled him as he made his exit. His walkout left the session in turmoil, with other lawmakers expressing disappointment at the breakdown in order.
Following the disruption, Ranking Lawmaker Yusuf Gagdi defended the committee’s handling of the situation, stressing that parliamentary rules should be followed and members must wait to be recognized before speaking.
Once the dust settled, IGP Egbetokun addressed the ongoing financial challenges facing the police force. He reiterated the need for the removal of the police from the “envelope” budgeting system to ensure more reliable and adequate funding. He also shared the good news that President Bola Tinubu had approved a major increase in the police’s annual recruitment quota, boosting it from 10,000 to 30,000.
“This increase in recruitment will go a long way in helping the police force to meet the growing demands of national security,” Egbetokun said. He emphasized that sufficient funding and personnel would be key to improving the force’s performance in the coming year.