By Fatima Saka
Abuja, Nigeria — The Senate has intensified efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s policing system with the advancement of a bill to repeal and re-enact the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF) Act, amid fresh concerns over funding limitations and governance gaps.
The move came to the fore on Tuesday at a one-day public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, chaired by Senator Ahmed Abdulhamid Mallam-Madori, at the National Assembly in Abuja.
The proposed legislation, titled Nigeria Police Trust Fund (Establishment) Act, 2026, seeks to address persistent funding shortfalls, improve accountability, and enhance the welfare, training, and operational capacity of the Nigeria Police Force.
Leading the presentation, the newly appointed Executive Secretary of the NPTF, Femi Mohammed Sheidu, described the bill as a “strategic investment in national security,” noting that the 2019 Act had exposed significant structural and funding limitations over the past six years.
He stressed that Nigeria’s evolving security challenges—including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, cybercrime, and organised criminal networks, require a more sustainable and responsive legal framework.
“The proposed Act will strengthen institutional support for modern policing, ensure sustainable funding, and enhance accountability mechanisms necessary for effective service delivery,” Sheidu said.
A key highlight of the bill is the proposed increase in statutory allocation to the Fund from 0.5 per cent to 1 per cent of the Federation Account. It also seeks to remove the existing sunset clause, effectively making the Trust Fund a permanent intervention mechanism.
Sheidu explained that scrapping the clause would enable long-term planning, sustained investment, and stronger partnerships with development agencies and the private sector.
The bill further proposes diversified funding sources, including international grants, private sector contributions, and philanthropic endowments, alongside stronger governance frameworks through improved oversight, technical reporting, and broader stakeholder representation.
Highlighting achievements under the current Act, Sheidu listed nationwide police training programmes, construction of smart police stations, procurement of operational vehicles and marine equipment, rehabilitation of barracks, and deployment of modern policing infrastructure.
“These achievements show what is possible with dedicated funding, but more needs to be done to meet the realities of modern policing,” he added.
Looking ahead, the Fund plans to establish state-of-the-art police hospitals across geopolitical zones, expand digital policing systems, develop housing schemes for officers, and improve welfare programmes for personnel and their families.
Stakeholders at the hearing, including security experts, civil society organisations, and government representatives—largely supported the bill but identified critical gaps requiring legislative attention.
One major concern was the composition of the board, with calls for the Inspector-General of Police’s representative to be elevated to Vice Chairman, given the operational expertise of the police leadership.
Contributors also argued that responsibility for police needs assessment should rest with the Inspector-General of Police rather than the Minister of Police Affairs, to ensure alignment with operational realities.
Further recommendations included revising the membership of the Budget and Implementation Committee to ensure representatives are not below the rank of Commissioner of Police, in line with the seniority of other members.
Civil society groups flagged notable issues in the draft, including a controversial typographical error describing the Executive Secretary as a person of “questionable character,” which they urged lawmakers to correct before passage.
They also criticised the exclusion of civil society representation from the board, previously provided for in the 2019 Act—and called for its reinstatement to strengthen transparency and public accountability.
Stakeholders further raised concerns over the bill’s silence on how the Trust Fund would operate under a future state policing structure, urging lawmakers to make the legislation forward-looking and adaptable.
On governance, participants cautioned against concentrating excessive powers in the office of the Minister of Police Affairs, recommending that major directives to the Fund should require board approval.
Debates at the hearing also spotlighted the poor welfare conditions of police personnel, with lawmakers stressing that increased funding must translate into improved salaries, pensions, insurance, and working conditions.
Some senators decried the operational realities faced by officers, including inadequate equipment, self-funded logistics, and insufficient support for families of fallen personnel, warning that reforms may fall short without addressing welfare concerns.
Concerns were equally raised over the excessive deployment of police personnel to VIPs and private individuals, which has reduced manpower available for core policing duties.
Lawmakers also criticised the absence of key officials, including the Inspector-General of Police and the Minister of Police Affairs, describing it as a lapse in accountability and respect for legislative oversight.
In his remarks, Senator Mallam-Madori reaffirmed the Senate’s commitment to reforms that would strengthen policing and improve public safety, assuring that all stakeholder submissions would be reviewed and harmonised.
The bill, sponsored as an executive proposal by President Bola Tinubu, aligns with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises security sector reforms as a foundation for economic growth and national development.
The public hearing drew submissions from the Attorney-General of the Federation, Ministry of Police Affairs, Police Service Commission, civil society organisations, security experts, and other stakeholders.
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The Senate assured that the final legislation would reflect broad consensus, prioritising police welfare, institutional accountability, and responsiveness to Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
If passed, the 2026 Act is expected to reposition the Nigeria Police Trust Fund as a central driver of police modernisation and strengthen the capacity of the force to effectively protect lives and property nationwide.
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