Lawmakers Approve Second Reading of Police Trust Fund Overhaul Bill

The Nigerian Senate has taken a key step toward overhauling how the Nigeria Police Trust Fund is financed, as lawmakers approved the proposed legislation for second reading during plenary on Tuesday.

The bill seeks to repeal and restructure the existing framework governing the Trust Fund, with a major proposal to increase statutory funding from 0.5 percent to 1 percent of revenue from the Federation Account. Lawmakers say the move is aimed at improving long-term financing for police training, equipment, welfare, and operational capacity.

While presenting the general principles of the bill, Senate leaders argued that the current security situation in the country—marked by rising cases of banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, cybercrime, and other violent offences—has stretched the police force beyond its limits.

They also noted that the police continue to struggle with inadequate resources, outdated equipment, weak infrastructure, and welfare challenges that affect morale and efficiency.

Some senators, however, raised concerns over the financial implications of increasing the funding allocation, as well as whether the proposed changes align with constitutional provisions.

After extensive debate, the bill was passed for second reading and referred for further legislative scrutiny. It is expected to undergo committee review before returning for the next stage of consideration.