The Nigerian Senate has passed for second reading, a bill seeking to repeal the Nigerian Police Trust Fund Establishment Act 2019 as amended and enact the Nigeria Police Trust Fund, 2026.
This followed the presentation of the general principles of the bill by leader of Senate Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC-Ekiti) at plenary on Tuesday.
Senator Bamidele leading debate said the bill was to provide for the equipment, training and welfare of the Nigeria Police Force.
He said the nation was confronted with complex and evolving security threats ranging from insurgency and banditry to kidnapping and robbery, cyber crime and communal unrest.
He said the challenges has placed enormous pressure on the Nigeria Police Force.
Welfare Challenges
Senator Bamidele said it was evident that the police force was constrained by inadequate funding, obsolete equipment poor infrastructure insufficient training and welfare challenges, adding that the situation was affecting morale.
He said the bill, an executive bill was therefore a deliberate legislative intervention to address the systemic deficiencies in a sustainable and structured manner.
The Senate Leader said the existing act establishing the trust fund was a commendable initiative, but however noted that practical experience over the years had exposed gaps in its governance structure.
Sustainability Gaps
He listed the gaps to include funding sustainability gaps, project execution mechanisms, transparency and accountability frameworks.
He said the bill proposes a comprehensive repeal and enactment to align its provisions with current realities global best practices on major security priorities.
He also listed the objectives of the bill to include the establishment of a more robust transparent and accountable Nigeria Police Trust Fund.
According to him, the bill will ensure predictable and sustainable funding streams and enhance the operational capacity and technological capability of the police.
“It will improve the welfare motivation and professionalism of personnel, supporting modern policing strategies in line with global standards,” Senator Bamidele said.
He said bill seeks intervention through provision of one per cent of total revenue accuring to the Federation Account, and the allocated development levies under relevant tax laws grants and intervention from federal, state and local governments
“Donations and international support from bilateral and multilateral partners, private sector contributions and endowments.” he stated.
Guarantee Sustainability
He said the diversified funding model would no doubt guarantee sustainability and reduce over reliance on annual budgetary allocations.
This, Senator Bamidele said would be efficiently deployed for clearly outlined priority areas of intervention.
He listed some of the areas earmarked for intervention to include acquisition of modern security equipment and operational tools, deployment of digital surveillance systems and forensic technology.
Other priority areas according to Senator Bamidele are construction and rehabilitation of police stations and facilities, strengthening of training institutions and capacity building programs.
He said the fund would also be used to enhance intelligence gathering and operational efficiency of the force.
Others priority areas according to the Senate leader is provision of emergency response during internal security crisis and improvement of welfare packages for officers and personnel.
Contributing, Senator Abba Moro, who seconded the motion said the act was one of such laws that required amendment, given the issue of insecurity.
Senator Moro said such laws in view of the nation ‘s critical security situation deserves to be amended.
He said the problems associated with policing in Nigeria was lack of adequate funding.
Senator Moro said the time has come to frontally confront the problem of inadequate funding of security agencies especially the police.
“So I think Mr President, this is one area that we must make adequate provision for the trust fund.” He stressed.
Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP-Bauchi), said the bill was a massive boost to the nation’s security challenge, saying that the bill would provide a roadmap to meet the nation’s security targets.
Utilisation of the Fund
He said the trust fund bill as presented was not for ceremony, saying that it should not be business as usual on utilisation.of the fund.
“Mr President, when you look at number four on the submission of the Senate leader, one per cent of total revenue accruing to the Federation Account, that’s really huge.” The Lawmaker explained.
Senator Adamu Alero (APC Kebbi) said it was cheering that organised private sector would be members of the board of the PTF when established.
This, he said would ensure proper utilisation of fund allocated.
He, however, advised on the need to get the support of state and local governments to avoid litigation.
“Before we do this, we have to get the buying of the local governments and the state governments.
“if you could recall even the half per cent that we approve here in the national assembly, Governors challenge it, it took time, before the governors withdrew that suit because they said the deduction is unconstitutional.
“And it is quite clear section 180 of the Constitution of 1999 as amended states that whatever goes into federation account is supposed to be shared based on existing allocation formula approved by the National Assembly.
“And the beneficiaries of the Federation Account are federal government, state governments and local governments.
“No agency of federal government will partake in sharing of the allocation in federation account.
“We cannot make law contrary to the provisions of the constitution, I therefore want us to be very cautious,” Senator Alero said.
President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, said the national assembly would not make law that would be in conflict with the constitutional provisions of the nation, saying that the Senate would be mindful of the constitutionality of the bill with the Nigerian constitution.
He said the bill at the public hearing would be further subjected to public scrutiny, saying that priority must placed on accountability of the fund when established.
Senator Akpabio, thereafter refered the bill to Commitee on Police Affairs for further legislative input and to revert back to plenary within two weeks.