NEC cuts police reform budget by N1.3tn
JUNE 28, 2013
Vice-President Namadi Sambo
The National Economic Council presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo on Thursday approved the downward review of the overall cost estimate of the Nigeria Police Reform Programme from N2.8tn to N1.5tn.
This was one of the outcomes of the monthly NEC meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Governors Babangida Aliyu (Niger); Peter Obi (Anambra) and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) briefed State House correspondents about the meeting’s outcome.
They were joined by the Minister of National Planning, Dr. Shamsudeen Usman; Minister of Police Affairs, Capt. Caleb Olubolade (retd.); and the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Muhammed Abubakar.
Obi, who is the Chairman of the Nigeria Reform Police Interim Implementation Committee, said the decision to reduce the estimate was taken after he presented a memorandum on the funding of the programme to the council.
He said the council also approved the extension of the reform period from five to six years to ensure the government’s commitment to the transformation of the police for effective security service delivery.
He said, “The memo also recommended a joint funding of the revised cost of N1.5tn with 60 per cent coming from the three tiers of government, while the Organised Private Sector and international development partners are to contribute 40 per cent.
“The council welcomed the proposals and also threw its weight behind the recommendations for a statutory funding of the police reform programme in line with the provisions of the Constitution.
“It agreed to provide extra funding for the police and agreed for a deduction of one per cent first line charge during the revenue allocation. Funds deducted will be used exclusively in the state.”
On crude oil theft, Nyako said the council stressed the need for enhanced collaboration among the affected states, security agencies and the Federal Government to address all administrative hurdles towards combating the menace.
He said the council set up a committee to assess the challenge and draw up a roadmap to guide further actions that would be taken by NEC towards finding a lasting solution to the problem.
“The committee, which is to report back to the council at the next meeting, has the following as members; Governors of Delta (chair), Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Edo and Ondo states; Minister of Finance, Minister of National Planning and Minister of Petroleum Resources,” he added.
No comments:
Post a Comment