Senate Proposes Increase in Police Trust Fund Allocation to Strengthen Security Operations

By Chisom Adaeze

The Senate has taken a significant step toward strengthening Nigeria’s internal security architecture with the passage of a bill for second reading seeking to increase funding for the Nigeria Police Force through the Police Trust Fund.

The proposed amendment seeks to raise the statutory allocation to the Fund from 0.5 per cent to 1 per cent of total revenue accruing to the Federation Account, in a move lawmakers say is aimed at improving policing capacity, welfare and operational efficiency.

Leading the debate, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele said the reform is necessary in view of Nigeria’s escalating security challenges, including insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, cybercrime and recurring communal conflicts.

According to him, these threats have placed enormous pressure on the police system, exposing gaps in manpower, equipment, training and welfare support.

Bamidele noted that persistent underfunding has left many police formations operating with outdated tools and inadequate infrastructure, limiting their ability to respond effectively to modern security threats.

He explained that the bill seeks to create a more sustainable and transparent funding structure that will ensure predictable financing for critical areas such as modern policing equipment, digital surveillance systems, forensic tools, intelligence gathering and improved response mechanisms.

The proposed legislation also expands funding sources beyond the Federation Account, including development levies under relevant tax laws, government subventions at all levels, donor and international support, as well as private sector contributions and endowments.

Seconding the motion, Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro described the proposal as timely, stressing that adequate funding remains central to effective policing and national stability.

Senator Abdul Ningi also supported the bill, describing it as a “massive boost” to the country’s security framework, though he urged strict accountability in the management of the proposed funds.

However, concerns were raised by Senator Adamu Aliero, who warned that direct deductions from the Federation Account could raise constitutional and fiscal issues. He called for wider consultations with subnational governments to avoid legal disputes.

In response, Senator Tahir Monguno defended the bill’s legality, arguing that the National Assembly has constitutional backing to legislate on expenditures drawn from the national revenue pool.

Presiding over the session, Senate President Godswill Akpabio cautioned that any funding framework must comply strictly with constitutional provisions, particularly those governing federal expenditure processes.

He assured lawmakers that the proposal would undergo further scrutiny at a public hearing where stakeholders would review its funding structure, transparency mechanisms and implementation framework.

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