The Senate on Tuesday passed for second reading a bill seeking to repeal the Nigeria Police Trust Fund Act, 2019 and replace it with a new legal framework aimed at strengthening the funding structure of the Nigeria Police Force.

The proposed legislation, titled the Nigeria Police Trust Fund Bill, 2026 (SB 1030), is designed to establish a more sustainable financing mechanism for police equipment, training, and personnel welfare. It also introduces a revised institutional framework to support the operational capacity of the Force.

Deliberations on the bill were marked by intense debate, particularly over the constitutionality of funding the Trust Fund through deductions from the Federation Account.

Raising a leading concern, Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo cautioned that the proposed 0.5 per cent deduction could expose the legislation to legal challenges, potentially rendering it invalid. He noted that a similar funding arrangement had previously been overturned following objections from state governments.

Dankwambo also questioned how the proposed funding model would align with ongoing national discourse on the establishment of state police structures.

Contributing to the debate, Senator Buhari Abdulfatai argued that the primary challenge facing the police is not solely inadequate funding, but the lack of essential equipment and operational support. He observed that the Nigeria Police Force currently has approximately 300,000 personnel serving a population exceeding 200 million.

In his remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio emphasised that while there is broad agreement on the need to enhance police funding, adherence to constitutional provisions must remain paramount.

“We make the laws; we must not violate them. The Constitution of Nigeria remains the supreme legal authority,” he stated.

Akpabio urged lawmakers to examine the bill in the context of Sections 80 and 81 of the Constitution, which govern withdrawals from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

Responding, Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno referenced Section 80(2), asserting that the National Assembly has the authority to legislate expenditures charged to the Consolidated Revenue Fund. However, the Senate President maintained that Section 81 requires such expenditures to be incorporated into the annual budget, rather than executed through direct statutory deductions.

Following the debate, the bill was put to a voice vote and passed, with the majority in support.

The Senate President indicated that outstanding issues would be addressed during a public hearing, including accountability for previous Trust Fund expenditures, identification of alternative funding sources, and the compatibility of the proposed framework with potential state policing arrangements.

He also directed the Senate Committee on Police Affairs to provide a detailed briefing on the utilisation of past Trust Fund allocations.

The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, which is expected to report back to the chamber within two weeks.