Senate advances Police Trust Fund Bill for second reading

The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday passed for second reading a bill seeking to repeal the Nigeria Police Trust Fund Act, 2019, and introduce a new framework to strengthen funding for the Nigeria Police Force.

The proposed legislation, titled the Nigeria Police Trust Fund Bill, 2026 (SB 1030), aims to ensure sustainable financing for police operations, including equipment, training and welfare, while establishing a revised funding structure.

Debate on the bill generated intense discussion among lawmakers, particularly over the constitutionality of funding the Trust Fund through deductions from the Federation Account.

Leading the concerns, Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo cautioned that the proposed 0.5 per cent deduction could render the law vulnerable to legal challenges, noting that a similar arrangement had previously been overturned following opposition from state governments.

He also raised questions about how the funding mechanism would align with ongoing conversations around the establishment of state police.

Other lawmakers, including Buhari Abdulfatai, argued that the primary challenge facing the police is not necessarily funding levels but the lack of adequate tools and operational support. He pointed out that Nigeria has roughly 300,000 police personnel serving a population exceeding 200 million.

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, emphasised that while there is agreement on the need to improve police funding, adherence to constitutional provisions must remain paramount.

“We make the laws; we cannot also break them. The Constitution is the ground norm,” he said, urging lawmakers to examine the bill in line with Sections 80 and 81 of the Constitution of Nigeria governing public expenditure.

In response, Mohammed Tahir Monguno argued that the National Assembly has the authority to legislate on expenditures charged to the Consolidated Revenue Fund, citing Section 80(2) of the Constitution.

However, Akpabio maintained that Section 81 requires such expenditures to be captured within annual budget estimates rather than enforced as direct statutory deductions.

Following deliberations, the Senate adopted the bill through a voice vote, with the majority supporting its progression.

Akpabio said a public hearing would address outstanding issues, including accountability for previous Trust Fund spending, alternative funding sources and the potential impact of the bill on state policing structures.

He also directed the Senate Committee on Police Affairs to brief the chamber on how past allocations under the Trust Fund were utilised.

The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, which is expected to report back within two weeks.