2024 Budget: Police Affairs minister appeals for budget increase

The Minister of Police Affairs, Sen. Ibrahim Gaidam has appealed to the lawmkers to increase the 2024 budgetary allocation to the Ministry.

The Minister who appeared before the Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Police Affairs, on Thursday, said the biggest challenge confronting the ministry is lack of proper funding.

Sen Ibrahim Gaidam said though there is increase in capital expenditure in the 2024 budget, it’s still not enough for the ministry, stressing that the Overhead is less than N1bn.

“The biggest challenge of the Ministry is the lack of proper funding. Now you can see from our 2023 budget that the total allocation for the Capital Expenditure was N503 million, which is less than N1bn, while the overhead cost was only N732 million.

“I want you to graciously use your good offices to increase the budgetary allocation to the Ministry”, he said.

Meanwhile, the Joint Committee has expressed concerns over the challenges faced by the Nigerian Police Force in carrying out its constitutional mandate of providing security for lives and properties in the country.

Consequently, the Committee has promised to improve their funding to curtail security challenges, ensure sufficient operational capabilities. and enhance the officer’s welfare.

Addressing the Minister and his team, the co-chairman of the Joint Committee, Senator Ahmed Abdulhamid Mallam Madori, said the lawmakers has taken into cognizance the enormous challenges facing the Force and are poised in assisting it to fulfill its mandate.

“As you are all aware, the Police Force is one of the major critical institutions in our country’s security architecture and a major primary agency responsible for maintaining law and order in the society for the protection of our citizens.

“As the Senate and House of Representatives Standing Committee on Police Affairs, we recognise the significant challenges facing the police Force in carrying out its mandate. We acknowledge the dire need to improve their funding to curtail security challenges, ensure sufficient operational capabilities, and enhance the officer’s welfare”.

Senator Mallam Madori, noted that the Committee will take into account the current realities and challenges confronting the country’s security sector and focus on ensuring that the Police Force is well equipped and equal to the task of maintaining law and order.

He further said it will ensure that the Police, as the primary security agency in Nigeria is capable of protecting the citizens and providing a favourable environment for the country’s economy to thrive.

“I implore everyone to work cooperatively and in good faith, to ensure that Nigeria and Nigerians benefit from the budgetary allocation to the Police Force”, he added.

In his closing remarks, the chairman, House Committee on Police Affairs, Hon. Makki Yalleman said the committee will do the needful to ensure the Police Force receive adequate sum bearing in mind the financial constraints confronting the government visa-vise the enormous task of providing security for the lives and properties of Nigerians

He also said they will ensure the Police Force and all supporting security agencies are able to function effectively and efficiently as possible.

Present at the Ministry’s budget defence were the Minister of State, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Permanent Secretary, Inspector General of Police, DIGs, AIGs and Directors.