Senate Approves ₦404 Billion Police Trust Fund Budgets

The Senate on Thursday approved a combined ₦404.07 billion for the Nigeria Police Trust Fund, endorsing the Fund’s 2025 budget of ₦170.10bn and its 2026 spending plan of ₦233.96bn.

Naija News reports that the allocations are expected to strengthen policing, security operations and critical infrastructure across the country.

The approvals followed the presentation of reports by the Senate Committee on Police Affairs.

The Acting Chairman of the committee, Senator Yunus Akintunde, representing Oyo Central, presented the report on behalf of the committee chairman, Senator Abdulhamid Ahmed Mallam-Madori of Jigawa East.

Presenting the report on the 2025 budget proposal, Akintunde explained that the appropriation was being reconsidered because the implementation of the previously approved budget had been stalled by legal issues arising from the proposed amendment to the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (Establishment) Act.

“This budget proposal under consideration was previously approved for implementation under the 2024 fiscal period. However, owing to developments arising from the proposed amendment to the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (Establishment) Act, 2019, and other circumstances beyond the control of the Fund, implementation of the approved budget could not commence.

“Consequently, the budget is being represented as the 2025 budget proposal for legislative consideration and approval,” he said.

The committee recommended the approval of ₦170.10bn for the 2025 fiscal year. The recommendation received overwhelming support from senators and was subsequently adopted by the chamber.

Contributing to the debate, Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi, representing Bauchi Central, described the Police Trust Fund as a critical intervention mechanism created to bridge the funding gap in the Nigeria Police Force.

Ningi lamented that legal disputes had prevented the Fund from utilising appropriated resources for almost three years.

“The Trust Fund is supposed to fill the funding gap, but for almost three years, because of legal issues, the Trust Fund has not been able to spend a kobo.

“We encourage the Fund to ensure that every kobo appropriated is properly utilised, and the National Assembly will track its implementation,” Ningi said.

The Senate subsequently considered and approved the Fund’s 2026 budget proposal of ₦233.96bn.

According to the report presented by Mallam-Madori, more than 90 per cent of the allocation was dedicated to capital expenditure.

The Senate Chief Whip, Mohammed Tahir Monguno, representing Borno North, commended the spending structure, saying other government agencies should adopt a similar approach.

“I am highly impressed by the fact that more than 90 per cent of the budget is devoted to capital expenditure, while the rest goes to recurrent expenditure.

“Other MDAs should take a cue from this because capital spending has greater potential to positively impact the operations of agencies,” Monguno said.

The Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, who presided over plenary, commended the committee for its work and expressed optimism that the approved funds would strengthen the police in tackling Nigeria’s security challenges.

“Your report is well put together and well articulated. The overwhelming support it received speaks for itself.

“We hope that this sum of money approved today will be utilised in a manner that will add more impetus to the Nigeria Police Force in fighting crime and addressing insecurity, especially kidnapping, banditry and terrorism,” Barau said.

The Nigeria Police Trust Fund was established to provide additional funding for the Nigeria Police Force through interventions in training, equipment procurement, operational logistics, infrastructure and other capacity-building initiatives.