The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday passed for second reading a bill seeking to repeal the Police Trust Fund Act of 2019 and replace it with a new framework aimed at improving how the Nigeria Police Force is funded.
The proposed law, known as the Nigeria Police Trust Fund Bill, 2026 (SB 1030), is designed to create a more sustainable system for financing police operations, including equipment procurement, training, and welfare for personnel.
However, the debate on the floor of the Senate quickly turned heated, with lawmakers sharply divided over the legality and structure of the proposed funding model.
Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo led the concerns, warning that the bill could face constitutional challenges if it retains a proposed 0.5 per cent deduction from the Federation Account. He noted that a similar arrangement had previously been struck down following objections from state governors.
He also questioned how the new funding plan would fit into ongoing discussions about establishing state police, suggesting the proposal may not align with current security reform efforts.
Other lawmakers focused more on the operational challenges within the police system. Senator Buhari Abdulfatai argued that the major issue is not just funding, but the lack of proper equipment and tools for officers on the ground. He highlighted that about 300,000 police officers are currently responsible for policing a population of over 200 million Nigerians.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, while acknowledging the need for better funding, stressed that any new arrangement must comply fully with the Constitution.
“We make the laws; we cannot also break the laws. The Constitution of Nigeria is the ground norm,” he said, urging lawmakers to carefully review the bill in line with Sections 80 and 81, which regulate withdrawals from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
Defending the proposal, Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno argued that the National Assembly has the constitutional power to authorise such expenditures. However, Akpabio maintained that such spending must be properly included in annual budget estimates rather than implemented as automatic deductions.
Despite the disagreements, the bill passed second reading after a voice vote, moving it to the next legislative stage.
Akpabio said the concerns raised—including accountability for previous Police Trust Fund spending, possible alternative funding sources, and its compatibility with state policing proposals—would be addressed during a public hearing.
He also directed the Senate Committee on Police Affairs to present a detailed report on how past allocations under the Police Trust Fund were used.
