The Senate has passed a bill amending the Nigeria Police Trust Fund Act to extend its duration and ensure continued support for police training and equipment.
The bill was swiftly passed during Tuesday’s plenary in Abuja, with Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele leading the debate on its general principles.
Bamidele said the amendment was necessary to sustain the fund’s contributions to policing reforms and capacity development.
“To among other things, provide for continued training, provision of equipment and related facilities as well as enhance the skills of personnel of the Nigeria Police.
“The overriding objective of the bill, basically, is to amend section 2(2) of the extant act to increase the duration of the Trust Fund, as established by the Act.
“With the benefit of hindsight, Mr President, my dear colleagues, the Act was enacted in 2019.
“However, the act became operational in 2022. The provision of section 2 (2) of the principal act, which established the trust fund, provides its operational scope for a duration of six years, which will expire at the end of this month”.
Bamidele said that as such, there was the urgent need to expedite action on the passage of the bill in accordance with the aforesaid provision.
He said that the act provides that upon expiration, the Fund would cease to exist, unless it is extended by an Act of the National Assembly.
“It is imperative to state that over the last few years, after the fund was established, a lot has been achieved.
“Noteably in the following areas; equipment and logistics, training and capacity development; infrastructure (rehabilitation and expansion), health and welfare initiatives.
“Therefore, it is imperative that the duration of the Trust Fund is further extended, in view of its laudable achievements.
“To ensure that the Nigeria police is well equipped to face emerging security challenges, bedeviling the country”.
Deputy Minority Leader, Sen. Lere Oyewumi seconded Bamidele, noting that the amendment was necessary to ensure continuation of the fund.
The Deputy Senate President, Sen.Barau Jibrin who presided over the plenary passed the bill.
