In this piece, Ekuson Nw’Ogbunka, Our Managing Editor in Abuja, takes a critical look at the Senate’s approval of a combined N404.07 billion for the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF), to cover the 2025 and 2026 fiscal years. The approval, which comprises N170.10 billion for 2025 and N233.96 billion for 2026, effectively ends a nearly three-year funding stalemate and sets the stage for fresh investment in policing, security operations and infrastructure across the country. The decision followed the adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs and comes on the heels of the passage of the Police Trust Fund Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2026.
The approval is significant because the NPTF has been unable to spend any appropriated funds for almost three years. The new budgets are expected to bridge critical funding gaps in the Nigeria Police Force and align with the Federal Government’s push to re-equip and re-tool security agencies amid rising security demands.
Senator Yunus Akintunde, representing Oyo Central and Acting Chairman of the Committee on Police Affairs, presented the report on behalf of the committee chairman, Senator Ahmad Mallam-Madori of Jigawa Northeast. His role was to clarify why the 2025 budget was before the Senate.
Akintunde told the chamber that the N170.10 billion for 2025 was previously approved for the 2024 fiscal period. However, he said implementation could not commence due to legal issues arising from the proposed amendment of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (Establishment) Act, 2019, and other circumstances beyond the Fund’s control.
“Consequently, the budget is being represented as the 2025 budget proposal for legislative consideration and approval,” he stated. By framing it this way, the committee sought to avoid duplication while ensuring that resources earmarked for police infrastructure do not lapse.
The committee therefore, recommended approval of N170.10 billion for 2025, and the Senate adopted it without amendment. This signals broad consensus that the Fund must be unblocked quickly to address operational deficiencies in the police.
Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central, weighed in on the importance of the Trust Fund. He described the NPTF as an intervention mechanism designed to fill funding gaps within the Nigeria Police Force that the regular budget cannot cover.
Ningi was blunt about the cost of delay. “The trust fund is supposed to fill the funding gap, but for almost three years running, because of legal issues, the Trust Fund has not been able to spend a kobo,” he said. His remark underscored the urgency of the approval.
Beyond approval, Ningi pushed for strict oversight. “We encourage the fund to ensure that every kobo appropriated is properly utilized, and the national assembly will track its implementation.” This sets the tone for legislative monitoring in the coming years.
Following the 2025 adoption, the Senate moved to consider and approve the NPTF’s 2026 budget proposal of N233.96 billion. The two-year combined figure of N404.07 billion represents one of the largest capital injections into police funding in recent years.
Senate Chief Whip, Senator Mohammed Monguno, focused on the composition of the 2026 budget. Commending the Fund for allocating more than 90 percent to capital expenditure, with the balance going to recurrent costs, he said: “I am highly impressed by the fact that more than 90 percent of the budget is devoted to capital expenditure, while the rest goes to recurrent expenditure.” For Monguno, the structure signals intent to build infrastructure rather than fund overheads.
He however advised other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to emulate the NPTF. “Other MDAs should take a cue from this because capital spending has greater potential to positively impact the operations of agencies,” he argued, linking budget design to service delivery.
Deputy Senate President Barau I. Jibrin, who presided over the session, commended the Committee on Police Affairs for its diligence. His endorsement gave the approval added weight from the Senate leadership.
“Your report is well put together and well articulated. The overwhelming support it received speaks for itself,” Jibrin said, even as he expressed confidence that the funds, when deployed, would strengthen the Nigeria Police Force and improve public safety.
The budget approval comes weeks after the Senate passed the Police Trust Fund Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2026. That bill seeks to strengthen the legal and institutional framework governing the Fund, which was the root cause of the previous implementation challenges.
A key provision in the new bill is the proposal to increase the statutory allocation to the NPTF from 0.5 percent to 1 percent of revenue accruing to the Federation Account. If assented to, this would double the Fund’s predictable revenue base.
With capital expenditure prioritized, the N404bn however, is expected to go into vehicles, communication equipment, barracks rehabilitation, training facilities and technology. This addresses long-standing complaints about poor police logistics and welfare that undermine operations.
The Senate has now done its part. The burden shifts to the NPTF management to execute transparently and deliver measurable outcomes. With lawmakers pledging to track spending and with a potential increase in statutory funding on the way, the 2025 and 2026 budgets could mark a turning point, but only if implementation matches legislative intent.
