The Senate on Wednesday approved a bill aimed at increasing the statutory allocation to the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF) from 0.5 per cent to one per cent of revenue accruing to the Federation Account, a move intended to boost police operations, strengthen security infrastructure and improve the welfare of personnel.
The proposed legislation, known as the Police Trust Fund Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2026 (SB. 1030), passed its third reading after lawmakers adopted the report submitted by the Senate Committee on Police Affairs.
Presenting the committee’s findings, its chairman, Senator Mallam-Madori Ahmed (APC, Jigawa East), called on senators to support the bill, describing it as a vital measure that would provide a stronger legal and institutional foundation for financing the activities of the Nigeria Police Force.
Ahmed explained that the bill seeks to guarantee sustainable funding for police training, procurement of modern equipment, acquisition of operational assets and enhancement of officers’ welfare. He added that it would also promote accountability, efficiency and improved service delivery within the Force while strengthening national security.
The legislation proposes the repeal of the existing Nigeria Police Trust Fund Act of 2019 and its replacement with a more comprehensive framework designed to address long-standing challenges such as inadequate funding, outdated equipment and poor welfare conditions affecting police personnel.
One of the key provisions of the bill is the increase in statutory funding for the Trust Fund from 0.5 per cent to one per cent of total revenue accruing to the Federation Account. The proposal attracted extensive debate among lawmakers because of its potential impact on government finances.
The bill was sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), who described it as a strategic initiative aimed at repositioning the Police Force to effectively confront emerging security threats across the country.
While leading debate on the bill, Bamidele noted that Nigeria’s security landscape has become increasingly complex, requiring a modern, adequately equipped and properly funded police institution.
He identified challenges such as insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, cybercrime and other criminal activities as reasons for sustained investment in policing infrastructure, technology and personnel development.
According to him, the proposed funding model extends beyond allocations from the Federation Account to include development levies, government interventions, international grants and contributions from the private sector.
The Senate Leader further stated that the bill introduces a stronger governance structure, including a multi-stakeholder board and a Project Implementation Committee, to ensure transparency, accountability and effective execution of projects financed through the Trust Fund.
He explained that the legislation is intended to establish a more robust and accountable funding mechanism for the police, guarantee predictable funding streams, improve operational and technological capabilities, enhance personnel welfare and professionalism, and support modern policing methods in line with international standards.
Under the proposed arrangement, the Trust Fund would receive financing from one per cent of total revenue accruing to the Federation Account, development levies under existing tax laws, interventions from the federal, state and local governments, grants from development partners and donations from private organisations and individuals.
Bamidele said the diversified funding structure would reduce reliance on annual budgetary allocations and ensure the long-term sustainability of the Fund.
He added that the resources would be used to procure modern security equipment, deploy surveillance and forensic technologies, construct and rehabilitate police facilities, strengthen training institutions, improve intelligence gathering, support emergency security operations and enhance welfare packages for officers and personnel.
Lawmakers noted that the proposed law would significantly improve Nigeria’s policing system by strengthening intelligence operations, boosting efficiency and supporting efforts to combat crime and insecurity nationwide.
With the Senate’s approval, the bill now advances to the next stage of the legislative process before it can be forwarded to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for assent.
