The acting Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr.
Abubakar Mohammed Adamu, has lamented that underfunding is one of the major
problems confronting the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
Adamu, who made the disclosure on Tuesday when
defending the 2018 police budget before the Hon. Lawal Abubakar-led Committee
on Police Affairs, urged the lawmakers to expedite action on the Police Reform
Trust Fund Bill pending before the National Assembly as a way to bridge the gap
of deficit in funding.
While underscoreding the fact that the primacy of the
Nigeria Police as the lead agency in internal security matters is being
challenged by inadequate funding, Adamu, who reinstated that he is committed to
restoring the dwindling primacy of the police within the internal security
architecture of Nigeria, stated that “this desire requires the support and
understanding of all stakeholders especially members of this House of
Representatives.”
According to him, “It has been realised that the
quantum of funds required to address the operational and administrative needs
of the Force can hardly be met through normal annual appropriation. In this
regard therefore, the long awaited Police Reform Trust Fund Bill pending before
the Notional Assembly is aimed at bridging the bridging the gap. I therefore
urge the 8'" National Assembly, to as a matter of urgency, consider and
pass into low the Police Reform Trust Fund Bill.
He stated that out of the N324, 220, 893, 212 appropriated
for the Nigerians Police, the sum of N25, 197, 675, 020 was appropriated for
Capital projects, but only the sum of N5, 019, 767, 502. 47 representing 19.92
percent has been released and cash-backed as at today while the balance of The
N20, 177, 907, 517. 53 is yet to be released. The amount released and
cash-backed to date has been utilised for the payment of completed and on-going
projects.
Also, N8, 917, 942, 925.37 was released out of the
N10, 301, 772.177 appropriated for overhead while N288, 721, 446, 064 was
appropriated for the payment emolument, including statutory deductions such as
funding for Compulsory Pension Scheme and National Health Insurance Scheme
(NHIS).
“I wish to crave your support and cooperation in the
task of repositioning the police to be able to carry out its statutory
responsibilities of maintaining law and order amongst others. Your commitment
at this point in time is very vital and I believe that there will be light at
the end of the tunnel.”
He assured Nigerians that “The Nigeria Police is
blessed with officers and men who are not only intellectually gifted and
exceptionally dedicated but professionally sound enough to surmount the
security challenges facing the nation.
He stressed that “these personnel require appropriate
level of funding to be equipped with the necessary resources to carry out their
responsibilities."
In another development, the Minister of State for
Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, who appeared before the House of Representatives
Committee on Aviation announced 11.6 per cent budget performance, a development
condemned by the Committee Chairman, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha and other members
of the committee.
The minister told the lawmakers that although N26.9
billion was appropriated for capital projects by the ministry in the 2018 budget,
a paltry N3.1 billion, which represents 11.6 per cent, was released.
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