Bill Recommends N540bn Annually for Police

• Bill Recommends N540bn Annually for Police

The Senate wednesday passed through second reading, a bill seeking the establishment of the Nigeria Police Development Fund (NPDF), which also proposes the sum of N540 billion annually to fund the Nigeria Police Force for enhanced provision of security.

The bill is sponsored by Senator Abu Ibrahim (Katsina South).

It recommends that when established, the NPDF, should be entitled to 0.5 per cent of the total revenue accruing to the federation account amounting to N370 billion, 0.005 per cent of the net profit of companies operating in the country; N50 billion and 30 per cent of money accrued to the Cyber Security fund which is N120 billion.

Ibrahim argued that from the three sources, the police would get N540 annually, which would ensure adequate training of personnel, provision of barracks, offices and equipment for the law enforcement outfit.

The fund would also oversee disbursement and utilisation of aid and grants to the police from national and international agencies, he added.

Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, however argued that the allocation of 0.5 per cent from the total revenue accruing to the federation account, to the fund, is in contrary to section 162 of the 1999 Constitution.

Such provision, he said, would therefore require an amendment to the constitution.

Ekweremadu instead, harped on the decentralisation of the police to allow for state police, for better service delivery.

The position of the Deputy Senate President on state police was opposed by Senator Adamu Aliero who said the main challenge of the police is funding.

He also argued that the constitution has to be amended to provide for 0.5 per cent revenue allocation to the fund.

The bill was referred to the Senate Committees on Police, Judiciary, Human rights and Legal Matters for further legislative duties

Presiding, Senate President Bukola Saraki urged the relevant committees to ensure the full involvement of states and local government at the public hearing on the bill.

“Whatever we want to do to address the problem must be within the constitution,” Saraki said.