The senate has passed for second reading, a bill seeking to increase remittance to the Police Trust Fund from 0.5 percent to one percent of revenue accruing to the federation account.
The bill scaled its second reading on Tuesday after Opeyemi Bamidele, senate leader, led the debate, with contributions from other lawmakers.
Bamidele said the proposed legislation is aimed at providing sustainable funding for the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in the face of growing security challenges.
The senate leader noted that the country is facing evolving threats, including insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, cybercrime and communal unrest.
According to him, the police are hindered by inadequate funding, outdated equipment, poor infrastructure, limited training, and welfare challenges affecting their morale and efficiency.
He described the bill as a structured intervention to address systemic deficiencies in policing.
“The new bill seeks to establish a more robust, transparent, and accountable funding mechanism,” Bamidele said.
“It aims to ensure predictable funding streams, enhance operational capacity and technology adoption, improve personnel welfare, and align policing with global standards.”
He added that proposed funding sources include one percent of federation account revenue, development levies under tax laws, government grants, and international and donor support, as well as private sector contributions.
Bamidele said the diversified funding structure would reduce reliance on annual budgetary allocations and sustain priority interventions.
He added that the fund would support procurement of modern equipment, digital surveillance systems, forensic technology, rehabilitation of police facilities, capacity building, intelligence operations, and emergency response.
The senate leader said it would also improve welfare packages for officers and strengthen training institutions.
Abba Moro, senate minority leader, who seconded the motion, described the bill as timely, noting that inadequate funding remains a major obstacle to effective policing.
Abdul Ningi, senator representing Bauchi central, said the bill would provide “a massive boost” to the country’s security architecture but stressed the need for strict accountability in its implementation.
Adamu Aliero, senator representing Kebbi central, raised concerns over the constitutionality of deductions from the federation account and called for consultations with state and local governments.
Mohammed Monguno, senate chief whip and senator representing Borno north, said the bill is constitutional, citing provisions of the 1999 Constitution that empower the national assembly to authorise expenditure.
However, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said such funding must be captured in annual budget estimates rather than treated as a standalone deduction.
Akpabio assured lawmakers that the senate would not pass any legislation that is inconsistent with the constitution, adding that the bill would undergo further scrutiny at a public hearing.
He thereafter referred the bill to the committee on police affairs, which is expected to report back within two weeks.
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