A review of public spending data has uncovered that the Nigeria Police Force disbursed N86 million in December 2024 for Christmas decorations at its Abuja headquarters and the official residences of Inspector General Kayode Egbetokun in both Abuja and Lagos.
According to entries on the federal payment platform Govspend, the funds were paid to Wysdum Integrated Services Limited and categorized under “Police Command and Formations.”
The purpose was stated as the supply and installation of “Comprehensive Christmas Decoration.”
This spending revelation has sparked fresh criticism of IGP Egbetokun’s leadership, particularly over financial priorities, as the welfare of police personnel remains a growing concern.
Previously, Sahara Reporters had highlighted President Bola Tinubu’s acknowledgment of the deteriorating welfare conditions within the police force.
The president reportedly committed to reforming the pension scheme and improving officers’ salaries to reflect Nigeria’s current economic realities.
During a recent meeting with retired police officers and stakeholders in police pensions held at the Police Resource Centre in Abuja, IGP Egbetokun admitted that police officers were underpaid and required urgent government intervention.
He said a proposal had been submitted to President Tinubu for annual financial support to enhance officers’ earnings.
Despite the ongoing conversations about poor remuneration and pension inadequacies, the N86 million decoration project has fueled public outcry, with critics calling for more prudent use of public funds given Nigeria’s economic constraints.
