Tinubu sends Police Trust Fund repeal, re-enactment bill to Reps

President Bola Tinubu has transmitted to the House of Representatives a bill seeking to repeal and re-enact the law and establish the Nigeria Police Trust Fund, in a move aimed at strengthening funding, oversight and operational efficiency in the Nigeria Police Force.

The proposed legislation was conveyed in a letter dated April 1, 2026 and addressed to the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, on Wednesday.

In the correspondence, the President urged lawmakers to give the bill expedited consideration.

The letter, referenced PRES/134-1/27/HR/NP/TFEB/01, reads in part, “I am pleased to transmit to the House of Representatives for consideration and passage into law, the attached Act proposing repeal and re-enactment of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (Establishment) Act, 2025.”

Explaining the intent of the proposed law, Tinubu noted that a review of the existing framework had become necessary to meet current security demands.

“The Nigeria Police TRUST Fund, NPTF Act repeal and re-enactment is imperative to provide management and administration of the fund, support for the training and enhancement of the skills of the Nigeria Police Force, provision of modern security equipment and machinery, and to enhance the welfare of the NPF, among other matters,” the letter stated.

The President further stressed that the proposed amendments would improve the transparency and long-term viability of the intervention fund.

“The House of Representatives may wish to note that the proposed repeal and re-enactment of the Act establishing the Nigeria Police Trust Fund will significantly enhance the operational capacity, accountability and sustainability of the NPTF in line with the present security imperatives of the nation,” he added.

Urging swift legislative action, Tinubu said, “While I trust that the House of Representatives will consider the request expeditiously, please accept, Rt Honourable Speaker, the assurances of my highest regards.”

The Nigeria Police Trust Fund was originally established to provide a dedicated funding stream for the training, equipping and welfare of personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, against the backdrop of chronic underfunding of the country’s policing system.

Under the existing framework, the Fund draws resources from multiple sources, including a statutory allocation of 0.5 per cent of the total revenue accruing to the Federation Account, contributions from companies operating in Nigeria, as well as grants, donations and aids from international partners.

Its core mandate covers the provision of modern policing equipment, rehabilitation of police facilities, training and capacity development, and welfare support for officers.

The intervention was conceived as a complementary funding mechanism to the regular budgetary allocations to the police, which have long been considered inadequate given Nigeria’s population size and evolving security challenges.

In recent years, however, concerns have been raised over the effectiveness, transparency and coordination of the Fund.

Stakeholders have pointed to overlaps with other security funding channels, delays in project execution, and the need for stronger accountability mechanisms.

The move to repeal and re-enact the law is therefore seen as part of broader efforts by the Federal Government to reform the security architecture, improve resource management, and better align funding structures with current threats, including terrorism, banditry and organised crime.

If passed, the new legislation is expected to redefine the governance structure of the Fund, tighten oversight provisions and ensure that resources are more efficiently deployed to frontline policing needs.