The Senate has approved a total budget of N404.07 billion for the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF), providing the go-ahead for its 2025 and 2026 spending plans targeted at enhancing policing, security operations, and infrastructure nationwide.
The authorised amount is N170.10 billion for the fiscal year 2025 and N233.96 billion for 2026.
The permission came after the Senate Committee on Police Affairs adopted the report it had submitted.
Senator Yunus Akintunde, representing Oyo Central, delivered the report on behalf of the committee chairman, Senator Ahmad Mallam-Madori of Jigawa North East.
While presenting the report, Akintunde explained that the 2025 budget had to be resubmitted because its previous implementation was hampered by legal concerns related to proposed revisions to the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (Establishment) Act.
“This budget proposal under consideration was previously approved for implementation under the 2024 fiscal period,” he stated.
“However, due to events resulting from the proposed revision of the Nigerian Police Trust Fund Establishment Act, 2019, and other factors outside the Fund’s control, execution of the authorised budget could not begin.
“Consequently, the budget is being represented as the 2025 budget proposal for legislative consideration and approval.”
Following the committee’s recommendation, the Senate approved the N170.10 billion allocation for 2025 before moving on to approve the N233.96 billion budget for 2026.
Senator Abdul Ningi of Bauchi Central identified the Police Trust Fund as a critical institution for bridging budget gaps within the Nigeria Police Force, noting that long-running legal challenges have prohibited it from using granted cash for nearly three years.
“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,” Ningi stated.
“We encourage the fund to ensure that every kobo appropriated is properly utilised, and the national assembly will track its implementation.”
Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno praised the 2026 budget’s structure, pointing out that more than 90% of the funding went to capital projects.
“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,” he stated.
“Other MDAs should take a cue from this because capital spending has greater potential to positively impact the operations of agencies.”
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, praised the committee’s efforts and expressed confidence that the authorised monies will strengthen the police’s ability to tackle insecurity.
“Your report is well-structured and communicated. “The overwhelming support it received speaks for itself,” he explained.
“We hope that this sum of money approved today will be utilised in a manner that will add more impetus to the Nigerian Police Force in fighting crime and addressing insecurity, especially kidnapping, banditry and terrorism.”
The decision comes only weeks after the Senate enacted the Police Trust Fund Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2026, which aims to strengthen the fund’s legal and institutional framework.
The proposed legislation also increases the NPTF’s statutory allocation from 0.5% to 1% of revenue collected by the Federation Account.