By Fatima Saka
The legislators have moved to improve the funding of Nigeria police force to address security challenges across the country in order to protect the citizens and create an enabling environment for economic Sustainability.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Senator (AMB) Ahmed Abdulhamid Mallam Madori, made the move on Thursday in Abuja, during the Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Defence of the 2023 Budget Performance and 2024 Proposals.
Senator Madori representing Jigawa North-East Senatorial District of Jigawa State, emphasized that the Nigerian Police Force is one of the major critical institutions in the country’s security architecture and a major primary agency responsible for maintaining law and order in the society for the protection of the citizens.
While delivering his opening remarks, the Chairman of the Police Force said in the Senate and House of Representatives standing committees on Police Affairs, “we recognize 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 officers’ welfare.
“This meeting provides us with the opportunity to review and scrutinize the budget proposals of the Force, with the aim of identifying areas of improvement and ways to resolve the challenges and constraints.
“The review exercise is vital and critical to this Distinguished committee, as it will enable us to ensure alignment between the budget and the Force’s set objectives. As legislators, we are committed to upholding accountability, transparency, in the discharge of our constitutional responsibilities assigned to us in our oversight functions.
“Therefore, we will scrutinize the budget estimate submitted by Mr. President in line with the global best practice of budgeting. We will examine the budget appropriation, evaluating the economic and social benefits, while analyzing the feasibility and suitability of the proposed budget line items.
“We will work harmoniously with the Executive and other stakeholders relevant to the budget allocations to strengthen the Nigeria Police Force’s operational effectiveness and improve the welfare of its personnel.
“I implore you all to remain open-minded, focused and determined in our quest to review and approve one of the best budgets for the Nigerian Police Force. We must take into account the current realities and challenges confronting the country’s security sector and focus on ensuring that our Police Force is well-equipped and capable of protecting our citizens and providing a favorable environment for our 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 Affairs sector.”
