RismadarVoice Reporters, June 25, 2026
The Senate has passed a bill seeking to increase the statutory allocation to the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF) from 0.5 per cent to 1 per cent of revenue accruing to the Federation Account, a move aimed at strengthening police funding, improving operational capacity and enhancing the welfare of personnel.
The proposed legislation, titled Police Trust Fund Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2026 (SB. 1030), was passed on Wednesday after its third reading on the floor of the Red Chamber.
The bill’s passage followed the consideration and adoption of a report presented by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Senator Mallam-Madori Ahmed (APC, Jigawa East).
Presenting the report, Ahmed urged lawmakers to support the executive bill, noting that it would provide a stronger legal and institutional framework for funding and supporting the operations of the Nigeria Police Force.
According to the committee, the legislation is designed to ensure sustainable financing for police training, procurement of security equipment, acquisition of operational assets and the improvement of personnel welfare.
Lawmakers said the proposed reforms would enhance accountability, efficiency and service delivery within the Force while strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to tackle crime and insecurity.
A major highlight of the bill is the proposed increase in the Police Trust Fund’s allocation from the current 0.5 per cent to 1 per cent of total revenue accruing to the Federation Account.
The provision sparked extensive debate among senators, with members weighing the fiscal implications of the increase against the urgent need to address the funding challenges confronting the police.
Sponsored by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), the bill seeks to repeal the existing Nigeria Police Trust Fund Act, 2019, and replace it with a more comprehensive framework for supporting policing operations across the country.
Bamidele described the proposal as a strategic national security intervention aimed at addressing persistent challenges such as inadequate funding, poor infrastructure, obsolete equipment and welfare concerns within the Nigeria Police Force.
He argued that the evolving nature of security threats, including insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and cybercrime, requires a well-funded and modern police force capable of responding effectively.
The Senate Leader explained that the proposed funding model would not rely solely on allocations from the Federation Account but would also accommodate development levies, government interventions, international grants and private-sector contributions.
He added that the bill introduces a strengthened governance structure, including a multi-stakeholder board and a Project Implementation Committee, to promote transparency, accountability and efficient execution of projects funded through the Trust Fund.
With the Senate’s approval, the bill proceeds to the next stage of the legislative process and will require concurrence by the House of Representatives before being transmitted to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for assent.
