Police explore ways of addressing its revenue challenges and generate more from outside sources.

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A two day conference of Internally Generated Revenue Desk Officers in the Nigeria Police Commands in collaboration with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), has opened in Enugu, capital of Enugu state, on Tuesday 15, October, 2024 to brainstorm on the challenges of Police revenue and how to think outside the box to improve the sources of revenue generation in the Police ecosystem.

Organized by the Ministry of Police Affairs, with the theme “Evaluation of Internally Generated Revenue in the Ministry”, the participants comprised Desk Officers from the Police Command of each geo-political zone of the country and facilitators from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

The Inspector General of Police, ( IGP) Mr Olusegun Kayode Egbetokun stated that though the Police is not a major revenue generating agency of the Federal Government, there is a need to articulate it’s revenue base.

The IGP through the Deputy Commissioner of Police ( DCP ) – Accounts and Budget, Mr Arotu Pere
recalled the approval given to the police by the Federal Executive Council on July 14, 2021, for the Police Specialized Services Automation Project (POSSAP), to look at generating revenue from the Fingerprint, Tinted Glass Permit; VIP Orderly and Escort; Assets/Specie Escort; International Driving Permit; Firearms & Ammunition Licenses; among others.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Secretary, Mr. James Sule described the Conference as one that would provide another opportunity for the Police to examine the impact assessment of their IGR.

Sule who spoke through the Director , Finance and Accounts, Mr Okehie Isaac Tochukwu stated “by examining our achievements in the past months on the internally generated revenue (IGR) for the police ecosystem and looking at the possible ways to align with the new priority of the present administration on the unification of revenue collection functions into a single agency, is significant”.

He recalled that Mr. President had mandated everybody in revenue generation in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to be up and doing, towards improving the revenue that will form part of the entire federation to tackle developmental projects in the country.

According to him “This conference is essential to this nation as the Ministry of Police Affairs occupies a critical position in the process of improving revenue.

” We are therefore expected to listen attentively to the experts and learn how to improve on the revenue generation of the Ministry which would benefit the nation”.

While acknowledging the vital role in maintaining transparency, accountability, and sound financial management in the security sector, the Permanent Secretary added that their work ensures that resources are allocated effectively, stressing that their expertise in financial oversight is also crucial to the success of policing efforts.

He consequently urged the conference participants to leverage data intelligence to curb revenue loss and imbibe a culture of professionalism and accountability to improve their revenue drive and stressed the need to be upholding the principles of fairness, transparency, and accountability which he said is paramount to winning the trust and confidence of stakeholders in the country.

One of the Conference facilitators Professor Abdulhamid Ozohu-Suleiman expressed that the economic development and sustainability of any country depends largely on its revenue profile and the capacity to harness the various revenue sources available.

He added ” the task of generating revenue sufficient to discharge the mandate of governance in Nigeria is quite challenging, as leadership failure is largely indicated in the numerous challenges of revenue generation and utilization in Nigeria.

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