By Naomi Sharang
Stakeholders on Tuesday threw their weight behind the proposed amendment of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF) Act, 2019.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bill aims to strengthen funding for Nigeria Police Force and enhance its capacity to tackle the country’s growing security challenges.
NAN also reports that the endorsement came during a day public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Police Affairs and chaired by Sen. Ahmed Mallam-Madori.
Presenting the position of the NPTF, its Executive Secretary, Mohammed Sheidu, said the Fund was established in 2019 to address chronic funding gaps in police training, equipment, infrastructure and personnel welfare.
Sheidu noted that while the Fund had served as a strategic intervention platform over the past six years, implementation of the Act had exposed legislative, structural and funding limitations that necessitated a more robust legal framework.
He said that Nigeria’s security environment had become more complex since 2019, citing terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, cybercrime and organised criminal activities.
According to him, the proposed legislation aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by providing a stronger institutional framework for sustainable funding of police modernisation, technology, infrastructure, training and welfare.
The senator described the proposed 2026 Act as timely, particularly its provision removing the Fund’s sunset clause and increasing the statutory allocation from 0.5 per cent to one per cent.
He syated that police reform and modernisation were continuous processes requiring long-term planning and investment.
The Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, represented by Imarha Reuben, said the bill would strengthen the operational capacity, efficiency and welfare of the Nigeria Police Force.
This, he said, was through sustainable funding, acquisition of modern equipment, infrastructural development and improved welfare packages.
Similarly, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Police Affairs, Anuma Nlia, said the proposed repeal and re-enactment of the Act would consolidate the gains recorded under the existing law, while repositioning the Fund to respond more effectively to emerging security challenges.
He added that NPTF had significantly enhanced police effectiveness through the construction and rehabilitation of police stations, barracks and accommodation facilities across the country.
In his remarks, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, stressed that a professional, well-trained, adequately funded and well-equipped police force remained indispensable for maintaining law and order and protecting democratic institutions.
Mallam-Madori noted that in spite of the Fund’s achievements, implementation of the current Act had faced some challenges, including funding uncertainties and litigation arising from some of its provisions.
He said that the executive bill sought to address these gaps and strengthen institutional governance.
Declaring the hearing open, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented by Sen. Osita Ngwu, described the Nigeria Police Force as central to the nation’s internal security architecture.
He said that the establishment of the Fund in 2019 was a bold initiative to provide sustainable supplementary funding for policing and improve the capacity, professionalism, welfare and operational readiness of the Force.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
NNL/WAS
Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq
