The Senate on Tuesday moved forward with plans to reform police funding after the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (Establishment) Bill, 2025, successfully passed second reading amid concerns over its financial and constitutional implications.
The proposed legislation, sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, seeks to replace the 2019 Police Trust Fund Act with a broader legal framework designed to improve funding, management, and operational support for the Nigeria Police Force.
Presenting the bill, Bamidele described it as a critical security measure intended to tackle long-standing problems affecting the police, including poor funding, outdated equipment, weak infrastructure, and declining personnel morale.
He argued that rising security threats such as insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and cybercrime demand a more modern and properly equipped policing system.
The bill proposes increasing the statutory allocation to the Police Trust Fund to 1 per cent of revenue generated into the Federation Account. It also introduces additional funding channels, including development levies, private sector support, and international grants.
To improve transparency and accountability, the proposal recommends the creation of stronger governance structures, including a multi-stakeholder board and a Project Implementation Committee.
However, several senators raised concerns during the debate.
Senator Abdul Ningi warned that increasing statutory deductions could reduce the amount of money available for distribution among the federal, state, and local governments. He also questioned how donor funds would be monitored and managed.
Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo called for clearer policy coordination, especially as discussions around state policing continue nationwide.
Similarly, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari expressed concerns over fund management and pushed for a performance-based system that would ensure accountability and measurable results.
Defending the proposal, Chief Whip Mohammed Tahir Monguno insisted that the funding arrangement remains constitutionally valid once backed by legislation passed by the National Assembly.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio also stated that the bill aims to address both funding shortages and administrative weaknesses within the Police Trust Fund structure while ensuring visible improvements across police formations nationwide.
Following deliberations, the Senate approved the bill through a voice vote and referred it to the Committee on Police Affairs for further review, with a report expected within two weeks.
