Senate Extends Nigeria Police Trust Fund to 12 Years for Sustained Reform
The Nigerian Senate has approved a bill extending the operational lifespan of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF) from six to twelve years.
The bill, sponsored by Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, was fast-tracked through the legislative process, passing both the first and second readings in a single sitting a rare but decisive move signaling the urgency of the legislation.
Leading the debate on the floor of the Senate, Senator Bamidele explained that although the NPTF was established in 2019, it only became operational in 2022. As such, allowing the initial six year lifespan to lapse in 2025 would severely disrupt ongoing support to the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
According to him, “The Trust Fund has been a critical instrument in the transformation agenda of the police. From modernizing equipment and logistics to capacity development and welfare support, it has begun to make a visible impact on the effectiveness of the Force.”
The Senator stressed that the extension would allow for continuity in crucial reform projects and strengthen the ability of the NPF to respond to Nigeria’s increasingly complex security landscape.
Importantly, Bamidele clarified that the extension would not place any additional financial burden on the federal government, as the Trust Fund continues to operate within its independent statutory funding sources, which include a 0.5% deduction from the total revenue of the Federation Account, and other contributions from the private sector.
The bill now awaits concurrence by the House of Representatives and presidential assent to become law.
If passed, the move is expected to give Nigeria’s overstretched security apparatus a firmer foundation for transformation and improved public safety delivery in the coming years.
