The Senate on Tuesday approved for second reading a bill seeking to repeal the Nigerian Police Trust Fund Establishment Act 2019 (as amended) and establish a new Nigeria Police Trust Fund 2026.
The proposal was introduced at plenary by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, who said it was an executive-backed initiative aimed at improving funding for the Nigeria Police Force.
Bamidele said Nigeria’s security situation had become increasingly complex, with rising cases of terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery and cyber-related crimes placing heavy demands on the police.
He said the current funding structure had proven inadequate, citing challenges such as outdated equipment, poor infrastructure, insufficient training and weak welfare conditions for officers.
The bill, he explained, seeks to repeal the existing law and introduce a more robust framework that ensures transparency, accountability and sustainable financing.
It proposes multiple funding streams, including one per cent of Federation Account revenue, statutory development levies, government interventions, private sector donations and international partnerships.
According to Bamidele, the goal is to enhance policing capacity through modern technology, improved intelligence systems, upgraded training institutions and better welfare support.
Lawmakers including Senators Abba Moro and Abdul Ningi supported the bill, describing it as timely and critical to addressing Nigeria’s security funding gaps.
However, Senator Adamu Alero raised constitutional concerns, warning that deductions from the Federation Account could trigger legal disputes if states and local governments are not fully carried along.
He urged caution and compliance with constitutional provisions governing revenue sharing.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the upper chamber would ensure strict adherence to the Constitution and subject the bill to further scrutiny at the public hearing stage.
The bill was thereafter referred to the Senate Committee on Police Affairs for further legislative work and is expected back in plenary within two weeks.
