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The Senate on Tuesday advanced to second reading a bill seeking to repeal the Nigeria Police Trust Fund Act of 2019 and replace it with a new legal framework aimed at strengthening funding for the Nigeria Police Force.
The proposed legislation, titled the Nigeria Police Trust Fund Bill, 2026 (SB 1030), is designed to ensure sustainable financing for police equipment, training, and welfare, while introducing a revised funding structure for the Force.
Deliberations on the bill were intense, with much of the debate focusing on the constitutionality of funding the Trust Fund through deductions from the Federation Account.
Raising concerns, Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo cautioned that the proposed 0.5 percent deduction could make the bill vulnerable to being declared “null and void” if challenged in court. He recalled that a similar funding mechanism had previously been invalidated following opposition from state governors. He also questioned how the funding plan would align with ongoing discussions about establishing state police.
Other lawmakers, including Buhari Abdulfatai, contended that the primary challenge facing the police is not necessarily insufficient funding, but rather the lack of adequate equipment and operational support. He pointed out that Nigeria has roughly 300,000 police officers serving a population exceeding 200 million.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio emphasised that while there is general agreement on the need to improve police funding, adherence to the Constitution remains paramount.
“We make the laws; we cannot also break the laws. The Constitution of Nigeria is the ground norm,” he said.
Akpabio urged lawmakers to carefully examine whether the bill complies with Sections 80 and 81 of the Constitution, which govern withdrawals from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
In response, Mohammed Tahir Monguno referenced Section 80(2), arguing that the National Assembly has the authority to legislate expenditures charged to the Consolidated Revenue Fund. However, Akpabio maintained that Section 81 requires such expenditures to be included in annual budget estimates, rather than implemented through direct statutory deductions.
Following the debate, the bill was put to a voice vote and passed its second reading, with the majority voting in favour.
Akpabio noted that outstanding concerns—including accountability for previous Trust Fund spending, alternative funding sources, and the bill’s compatibility with potential state policing structures—would be addressed during a public hearing.
He also directed the Senate Committee on Police Affairs to brief leadership on how past Trust Fund allocations were utilised.
The bill has now been referred to the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, which is expected to report back to the chamber within two weeks.