Police stakeholders begin process to improve revenue generation

Stakeholders in the police ecosystem have begun the process of improving revenue generation for enhanced welfare and developmental projects.

Specifically, officials of the Ministry of Police Affairs and Internally Generated Revenue desk officers from all police commands, in collaboration with the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, are brainstorming in Enugu on the challenges of revenue and how to think outside the box to improve sources of revenue generation in the police ecosystem.

The conference, according to a statement by the Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations, Bolaji Kazeem, was organised by the Ministry of Police Affairs with the theme “Evaluation of Internally Generated Revenue in the Ministry.” It drew participants from desk officers from police commands representing each geopolitical zone of the country and facilitators from FIRS.

The Permanent Secretary, James Sule, represented by the Director of Finance and Accounts, Okehie Isaac Tochukwu, pointed out that the conference provides another opportunity to examine the impact assessment of the internally generated revenue, IGR.

“By examining our achievements in the past months on the internally generated revenue 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, it is significant,” he said.

The permanent secretary revealed that President Bola Tinubu has mandated everybody in the ministries, departments and agencies involved in revenue generation to be up and doing to improve the revenue that would form part of the entire federation to tackle developmental projects in the country.

James acknowledged a vital role in maintaining transparency, accountability, and sound financial management in the security sector, adding that their work ensures that resources are allocated effectively, and their expertise in financial oversight is crucial to the success of policing efforts.

The Permanent Secretary urged them to leverage data intelligence to curb revenue loss and imbibe a culture of professionalism and accountability to improve their revenue drive.

He stressed the need to uphold the principles of fairness, transparency, and accountability, which are paramount to winning the trust and confidence of stakeholders in the country.

Professor Abdulhamid Ozohu-Suleiman, who is one of the facilitators at the conference, expressed that the economic development and sustainability of any country depend largely on its revenue profile and the capacity to harness the various sources available to it.

He added that the task of generating revenue sufficient to discharge the mandate of governance in Nigeria is quite challenging, noting that leadership failure is largely indicated by the numerous challenges of revenue generation and utilisation in Nigeria.

Earlier, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Accounts and Budget, DCP Arotu Pere, stated that the police is not a major revenue agency of the federal government but stressed the need to articulate a revenue base.

He recalled the approval given to the police by the Federal Executive Council on July 14, 2021, for the Police Specialised 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 and Ammunition Licences, among others.