IGP raises the alarm over poor funding of Police

THE Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Ibrahim Idris, on Tuesday raised the alarm over the non-release of funds appropriated yearly for the Nigeria Police Force, saying that the Force needed the whopping sum of N560 billion annually to perform optimally.

The IGP raised the alarm in Abuja on Tuesday while speaking before the House of Representatives Committee on Police Affairs at a public hearing on a bill for an Act to Establish “The Nigeria Police Reform Trust Fund” and a “Bill for an Act to Amend the Explosives Act of 1964.”

Idris who rolled out figures to support his claim over the non-release of appropited funds by the National Assembly to the Police over the years lamented that this singular act was inhibiting the Force’s operations and called for an immediate solution to it for the Force to perform optimally.

He observed that previous efforts to reform and reposition Nigeria Police since 2008 and Parry Osayande committee and the M.D Yusuf Reform Committee in 2008 which recommended N2.8 trillion (for five years) to lift the Nigeria Police were ignored by the previous administrations.

According to him, “This sum translates to N560 billion annually. Compare this to the N16.1 billion allocated to police in 2016 for capital development which only N10 billion was released.

“The reform is to be utilised for communication and information technology infrastructure, patrol/operational vehicles, crafts and other facilities; provision of full complement of arms/ammunition, riot control equipment, protective gears, armoury and firing/shooting range; forensic technology/scientific aids for investigation, among others.

He stated that out of the total sum of N1,164,405,193,431 proposed for capital expenditure by the police between 2012 and 2016, N64,999,567,375 was appropriated out of which N40,474,332,673 was cash-backed, leaving a balance of N24,552,234,702 yet to be released till date.

Said he, “From the estimated sum of N19.9 billion required for fuelling of 14,306 vehicles including 3,115 motorcycles nationwide, only N809 million was released; out of N7.04 billion required for maintenance of vehicles only N486 million was released while out of N14.5 billion required for uniforms and accoutrements (kits), only N1 billion was released.”

The IGP  added that the police required “N700 billion for rehabilitation of existing barracks/quarters; N200 billion for local travels and transport; N1.133 trillion yearly for procurement of arms and ammunitions, purchase of new vehicles, gun boats, helicopters and other technological needs as well as N200 billion for installation of CCTV cameras, database and video cameras in all police stations across the country as required by Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 to build a functional crime laboratories and other investigative aids.

‎Idris then urged the lawmakers to expedite action on the passage of the Nigeria Police Trust Funds Bill sponsored by a member of the House, Honourable Olamide Johnson Oni to enhance the nation’s police force.

In his own submission, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar called for the establishment of a Special Intervention Funds for the nation’s armed forces that would assist in the procurement of security infrastructure and welfare of security operatives in the armed forces of the federation.

Abubakar expressed support for the establishment of the Police Reform Trust Fund and the bill which entrusts the management of explosives to the Police urged the National Assembly to recommend  10 years imprisonment without any option of fine  for anyone who misappropriated the fund and breached the Explosives Act to curb any abuse

On his part, Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi of Kano advised that people of impeccable character should manage the Fund to prevent monumental fraud which will be counterproductive.

He also stressed the need for proper coordination of vigilante security across the country.

Speaking earlier, Haliru Jika, chairman, House Committee on Police Affairs who noted that the Nigeria Police was over stressed in all ramifications due to the fact that it has only 300,000 officers and men manning 180 million people.

This ratio, according to him, was far below the United Nations recommendation of 1-400 police-population ratios.

In the bid address the challenges, Jika emphasised the need for adequate funding of the police in order to boost their morale and improve operational efficiency.

According to him, “Until the Police Reform Trust Fund bill is passed, every attempt towards curbing corruption within the Force would be wild goose chase without human face. The passage of the bill into law will among others improve in the overhead costs in all police stations, prevent the police from being partisans during elections when officers and men are at the mercy of the states and local governments for resources for mobilisation, prevent few officers and men who are available from being overworked and overstressed, put an end to rickety and non-functional patrol vehicles, and provide fuel for those that can move

“Above all, provide the opportunity of training and restraining of personnel; provide equipment and machineries,” he stated.

On the repeal and re-enactment of Explosives Act, Jika noted that “the review of the Act is to curb illegal usage if explosives regulation of importation, manufacture, storage and distribution considering the recent security challenges bedevilling the country. It is also to address illegal diversion of explosives by some companies minded people.”

On his part, Ayuba Wabba, President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) who acknowledged that the ability of Nigeria Police to effectively discharge its functions is weakened by the lack of adequate resources provisioning over the years, expressed support for any policy or law aimed at obviating various challenges facing the agency.

According to him, “It is in this regard that the Congress is favourably disposed towards this bill aimed at establishing a Special Fund to supplement the regular provisions through the national budget.

“Given the serious challenges being faced by citizens as a result of the escalating incidences of crimes such as kidnapping, robbery, rape, herdsmen and cult menace in several parts of the country, there is urgent need for special intervention funds to better prepare the police personnel to confront these challenges.

“While we recognize that, in the long run, the national budget has to be the framework for funding the police, some special time-bound intervention is required. The initial time framework of six years proposed in the bill will serve to build up capacity and upskill the personnel to cope with the current challenges,” Wabba said.

On his part, Mohammed Yesufu, Deputy Inspector General of Police who canvassed that the chairman of the Police Reform Fund Board or Chief Executive Officer of the fund should be a retired senior police officer with good track record to be appointed by Mr President, argued that the failed police equipment fund was due to the fact that it was “solely left in the hands of outsiders to manage.”

He also canvassed that the fund should be institutionalised like other funds like Petroleum Technology Development Trust Fund (PTDF); Education Trust Fund (ETF); Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND); and Industrial Training Fund (ITF), which are special intervention agencies established to assist certain areas of development.

While declaring the public hearing on the bills open, Speaker Yakubu Dogara who was represented by Leo Ogor, Minority Leader noted that the public hearing was in tandem with the provision of the Nigerian Constitution

He explained that the proposed amendment of the Explosive Act became necessary as a result of the current insecurity challenges facing the country.

Dogara who noted that the bill on establishment of the Police Trust Fund was long desired by Nigerians will operate for six years and provide for training and improve welfare of Nigerian police and officers.

He expressed optimism that adequate finding remains a critical factor for the success of any security agency in tackling the menace of kidnapping, terrorism and other social vices in the society.

The Speaker also maintained that the establishment of the Fund will help in correcting the battered image of the Nigeria Police which “Nigerians have over the years criticized by Nigerians and perceived to be an enemy institution.”