Senate Proposes 1% Revenue for Police Trust Fund

On Tuesday, the Nigerian Senate passed a bill during its second reading that seeks to increase the revenue remittance to the Police Trust Fund from 0.5% to 1% of the total revenue accruing to the Federation Account. The debate was led by Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele from Ekiti Central, who emphasized the need for sustainable funding to equip, train, and improve the welfare of the Nigerian police force, which faces significant security challenges including insurgency, banditry, and cybercrime.

The bill aims to address systemic deficiencies in the existing trust fund and establish a transparent funding mechanism to ensure predictable funding streams. Senator Abba Moro from Benue South noted that inadequate funding is a major obstacle to effective policing.

Concerns were raised by Senator Adamu Aliero regarding constitutional compliance, urging consultation with state and local governments to avoid legal disputes. The bill will undergo further scrutiny and public hearings before being reported back to the Senate within two weeks.