FG allocation not enough to curb crimes, others –IGP

From Molly Kilete. Abuja

Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, yesterday, said poor budgetary allocation is hampering its capability to curb terrorism, kidnapping and armed robbery, now rampant in the country.

Idris, who made this known at a meeting on 2016 budget performance, with the House of Representatives Committee on Police Affairs, said the Force got only N4 billion for capital project in the 2016 budget, out of N16.1 billion that was appropriated, and added that the allocation, being first quarter warrant, was released in September, 2016.

He also said the police were contending with infrastructure deficiency, stressing that the impact was enormous.

The IGP, who gave a breakdown of the allocations so far released to the police, said it received N6.3 billion out of N9.2 billion appropriated for overhead cost in 2016.

He also said out of N283 billion appropriated for personnel in the 42 commands and formations, only N273 billion was paid with a balance of N10.5 billion, leading to a shortfall in the payment of statutory deductions such as Personal Income Tax to the Federal Inland Revenue Service, cooperative society, National Housing Fund and promotion arrears, among others.

Continuing, the IGP said in 2012, N9.6 billion was appropriated for capital projects, but N7 billion was released and cash-backed; in 2013, N14 billion was appropriated, N11 billion was cash-backed and in 2014, out of N7.3 billion capital appropriation, only N3.4 billion was released, adding that in 2015,  N8.9 billion was released out of N17.8 billion capital appropriation.

“It can be seen that allocations to the Force is grossly inadequate despite the increasing security challenges it has to contend with.

“The non-release of appropriated capital budget has inhibited the Force from accomplishing its set objective of providing necessary tools and infrastructure for the enhancement of its operational capacity and capability.

“Arising from the above, budget planning and executions have been rendered difficult as the release of appropriated funds cannot be guaranteed,” he said.

In his address, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Police Affairs, Haliru Jika, who said they were on a fact-finding mission, assured the police of the committee’s support in achieving their mandate of ensuring internal security.