POLICE REFORM: 1% DEDUCTION FROM STATUTORY ALLOCATION BEGINS THIS MONTH

The one percent first line charge deduction from revenue allocated to the 36 states to fund the Nigeria Police, will commence later this month.

The deduction is to reposition the police Force for effective performance.
Announcing this in Abuja yesterday, Minister of Police Affairs, retired Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade, explained that one percent revenue allocation would further assist fund the Police Reform Programme, through logistics, welfare and training.

He thanked President Jonathan for initiating the new policy, noting that the regular budget can no longer cater for the operational needs and welfare of officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force.

Said he: “ The President initiated the reform budget to ensure that neglect of the Force becomes a thing of the past. We have the regular budget and the reform budgets targeted at making provisions for the Nigeria Police Force. The reform budget is used to boost professionalism in the Police, while the regular budget is mainly managed by the Inspector General of Police and the Police Management Team for capital and recurrent expenditures of the Police.

In the last two years, a lot has been accomplished within the resources provided, particularly in the reform budget.
“In the case of the reform budget, when it became clear that the releases to the ministry was dwindling as a result of  illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalisation, Mr. President gave a clear directive to the Vice President, who is the Chairman of the Interim Implementation Committee on Police Reform Programme, to find an alternative way of funding the reform programme. This singular initiative has brought about the needed solution to fund the reform programme.”