By Nathaniel Zaccheaus, Abuja
The Senate on Wednesday approved a far-reaching reform of Nigeria’s police funding structure, passing the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2026, to guarantee a permanent source of financing for the Nigeria Police Force while introducing stricter oversight and accountability measures.
The legislation repeals and re-enacts the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (Establishment) Act, 2019, abolishing the six-year expiration clause originally built into the law and replacing it with a framework designed to ensure sustained funding for police operations, training, equipment acquisition, infrastructure, and personnel welfare.
The move is widely seen as a major step towards strengthening Nigeria’s internal security architecture at a time when the country continues to grapple with terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery and other security threats.
The bill was passed after the Senate considered and adopted the report of the Committee on Police Affairs during plenary presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Under the 2019 Act, the Police Trust Fund was conceived as a temporary intervention mechanism intended to support the Nigeria Police Force. Section 2(2) of the law provided that the Fund would cease to exist after six years unless extended through another Act of the National Assembly.
Since the law was signed on June 24, 2019, the Fund was due to expire in June 2025, prompting concerns among policymakers and security stakeholders about the future of critical intervention projects and funding arrangements.
In response, lawmakers moved to remove the sunset clause and establish a more enduring legal foundation for police financing.
Presenting the committee’s report, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Senator Abdulhamid Malam-Madori, said the new legislation would provide stability in police funding while strengthening transparency in the management of public resources.
According to him, the committee engaged widely with stakeholders, received memoranda from members of the public and held a public hearing before arriving at its recommendations.
Malam-Madori said the committee was convinced that the operational and welfare challenges facing the police require a permanent funding mechanism to address long-standing gaps in law enforcement capacity.
“The committee is satisfied that the bill provides an appropriate legal and institutional framework for the management of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund and will strengthen accountability, transparency and sustainability in the funding of the Nigeria Police Force,” he said.
He explained that the new law introduces stronger governance provisions, anti-corruption safeguards, and improved monitoring mechanisms to ensure prudent utilisation of funds.
The senator added that the legislation would support more effective planning and implementation of projects through regular assessments of police needs and enhanced supervision of expenditures.
During clause-by-clause consideration of the bill, lawmakers proposed several amendments designed to strengthen legislative oversight and prevent possible abuse of executive authority.
One provision that attracted considerable debate related to presidential intervention powers under the proposed framework.
Senators observed that while the draft legislation required the President to notify the National Assembly within 48 hours of any intervention, it did not expressly provide for parliamentary approval after such action.
Several lawmakers argued that executive interventions should be subjected to procedures similar to those governing declarations of a state of emergency to ensure proper checks and balances.
The debate underscored growing concern among legislators about the need to strengthen accountability mechanisms as the Fund assumes a more permanent role in police financing.
Following deliberations, the Senate resolved into the Committee of the Whole, adopted the recommendations of the Police Affairs Committee and approved the bill for third reading.
The Clerk of the Senate subsequently read the long title of the bill before it was formally passed.
Speaking after the passage of the legislation, Akpabio commended members of the committee for what he described as a diligent and thorough review of the bill.
“I thank my distinguished colleagues for their painstaking scrutiny of the bill and for their patriotism and patience in remaining in session from 11 a.m. until after 5 p.m. to complete consideration of this important legislation,” he said.
The Senate President also acknowledged the contributions of stakeholders and members of the public who participated in the legislative process through submissions and public hearings.
Akpabio expressed optimism that the new framework would significantly improve the welfare of police personnel and strengthen operational effectiveness.
“With this legislation, the welfare of officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force will be enhanced, operational efficiency will improve, and Nigerians will be safer.
“The challenges of banditry, terrorism and other forms of insecurity will be significantly reduced,” he stated.
Security experts have repeatedly identified inadequate funding as one of the major obstacles to effective policing in Nigeria, citing poor infrastructure, obsolete equipment, limited training opportunities, and welfare concerns among personnel.
Supporters of the legislation believe that making the Trust Fund permanent will provide predictable financing for critical policing needs and accelerate efforts to modernise law enforcement operations nationwide.
With the Senate’s approval, the Police Trust Fund is now poised to become a long-term intervention platform to address funding deficits, upgrade facilities, improve personnel welfare, and enhance the operational readiness of the Nigeria Police Force.
The bill is expected to proceed to the House of Representatives for concurrence before being transmitted for presidential assent.
