Lawmakers frown at N570bn allocation for judiciary, police in 2021 Budge

The Senate Tuesday called for adequate security measures around Judges and Courts in the country to ensure their safety from spontaneous or premeditated attacks.

The lawmakers also frowned at the N110billion budgetary estimates projected for the Judiciary in 2021 as provided for the 2020 fiscal year.

Similarly, members of the Lower House also faulted the N449billion budget allocation to the Nigerian Police Force.

Put together, the sum of N570billion was allocated to both the Judiciary and the Police, a development the lawmakers described as not good for the nation’s justice and policing systems.

The Blueprint reported that the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters made the position known while engaging Chief Registrars of all the courts on their 2021 budgetary proposals.

Making the call in his opening remarks at the budget defence session, the committee Chairman, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC Ekiti Central), said the recent attacks on the courts in the land by hoodlums were worrisome and condemnable.

He said such attacks, spontaneous or premeditated, were more or less potential assaults on Judges and Justices, and must therefore be nipped in the bud.

“Worthy of note, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, is the unfortunate and unwarranted recent attack and vandalisation of the Court of Appeal archive office in the Lagos Division, as well as the Lagos State High Court Complex, located at Igbosere, which was set ablaze by hoodlums.

“This action is highly condemnable and a clarion calls for provision of adequate security mechanisms, for the safety of Judges and the Courts, generally.

“Aside safety of Judges and the courts, welfare of Judges as well as electronic fittings and Automation of the courts, are also very critical areas requiring urgent attention that must be given,” he said.

The lawmaker also said the N110billion earmarked for the arm of government in the coming fiscal year, was ridiculously low and grossly inadequate to bring about the needed turnaround.

“This committee will do all within its legislative powers to ensure that the funding of the Judiciary is improved upon for dispensation of justice in the country efficiently and appropriately,” he said.

From the Secretary, National Judicial Council (NJC), Ahmed Gambo Saleh, to Registrars of the various courts, underfunding of the Judiciary was the major complaints made to the Committee, with the body promising to look into it.

Reps thumb down police capital allocation.

Similarly, the House of Representatives Committee on Police Affairs, said the N449billion total budget estimates for the Force was inadequate.

Specifically, he said a paltry N11 billion as capital expenditure for the agency was not enough for the organisation to effectively fight crime.

Chairman of the committee, Hon Bello Kumo said this Tuesday while speaking during the budget defence session with the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu.

Describing the budget estimates for the Police as grossly inadequate, the lawmaker stressed the need for the authorities to take drastic measures on the issue.
He assured his committee would make additional budgetary provision for the capital component of the Force.

Kumo, however, directed the IGP to submit an inventory of police stations destroyed as well as a comprehensive list of personnel of the force killed during the #EndSARS protest across the country.

He said the speedy manner President Muhammadu Buhari assented to the Police Reform Act was a demonstration of the administration’s resolve to address the challenges bedevilling the police.

He said it was common knowledge that the Force was underfunded, saying this was unacceptable.

“The Speaker of the House of Representatives and his Deputy had asked me to tell you that you should submit names of police officers who died during the #EndSARS protests across the country,” he said.

Kumo said there was need to understand what brought about decay in the police, adding that President Buhari’s directive for a new salary structure for the police should be commended.

Speaking at the session, the IGP said the Nigerian Police would always operate on accountability and transparency.

The police chief also said the problems confronting the police were but not limited to lack of funds, unanticipated crisis, and #EndSARS protest which led to the destruction of some police stations and equipment among others.

Adamu said cutting down the Force’s budget from N469 billion to N449 billion by the budget office would not help the nation’s cause.

Going down to specifics, the IGP said police vehicles across the country alone would take N24.8 billion; saying reducing the budget could threaten the nation’s security.
Speaking in similar vein, Minister of Police Affairs Mohammad Dingyadi said in line with the committee’s request, necessary amendments were done to the budget to ensure perfect understanding.