YET again, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) is in the news for the wrong reasons. An October 13 report shows why so many policemen and policewomen appear in shabby uniforms and other clothing.
In the 2020 Appropriation Bill that President Muhammadu Buhari presented to the joint session of the National Assembly, the police budget for uniform and other clothing is N571, 921,344, but the figure is unlikely to change the shabby uniforms of so many policemen and policewomen.
An Assistant Superintendent of Police with the Ekiti State Command, who has been in the NPF for more than 20 years, was quoted as saying: “I have been buying my uniform since I left the Police College. We are aware that there is always a budget for uniform but we do not know what becomes of the money earmarked for it. In fact, if you ask any police, they will tell you they are aware, but people don’t get the uniform. So, where does the money go?”
Another Assistant Superintendent of Police with the Federal Capital Territory Command, Abuja, who has spent about 17 years in the Force, was quoted as saying: “I’m aware that we are supposed to be given a new uniform, a belt, shoes, beret, lanyard, among others every two years, but even people at the top know that those things don’t get to us. Imagine, with my level in the Force if I could be complaining like this, imagine the fate of junior officers.”
The figures for eight years show that the police had budgeted N9.88bn for uniform and other clothing: N2.01bn for 2010; N1.94bn for 2011; N1.36bn for 2013; N710.8m for 2015; N1.99bn for 2016; N752.5m for 2017; N573.22m for 2018; and N543.22m for 2019. The figures for uniform and other clothing for 2012 and 2014 were unavailable, the report said. The total allocation to police formations and commands in these years was N2.47tn.
When the budgets for uniform and other clothing do not translate into uniform and other clothing, so many policemen and policewomen will appear in shabby uniforms and other clothing.
It is scandalous that the police leadership asks for funds for uniform and other clothing, gets the funds, but fails to provide the items. It is scandalous that such leadership failure happens year in, year out.
Policemen and policewomen in shabby uniforms and other clothing reflect a police leadership that needs a lesson in accountability.
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