SAN FRANCISCO, September 27, (THEWILL) – A Bill proposing the setting aside of the sum of N540bn annually to fund the Nigeria Police Force for enhanced provision of security on Wednesday scaled second reading at the Senate.
The Bill for an Act to establish the Nigeria Police Development Fund, NPDF, and related matters 2017 seeks to provide a legal framework for the management and control of the special intervention fund to be known as Police Development Fund.
The fund is to be created for the training and retraining of personnel of the Police, provision of equipment, offices and barrack accommodation and related facilities to enhance police security service delivery.
In his lead debate, sponsor of the bill, Senator Abu Ibrahim, (Katsina South) said he was convinced that the enactment of the bill into law would encourage police personnel to put in their best and serve the country better.
He 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 N370bn, 0.005 per cent of the net profit of companies operating in the country; N50bn and 30 per cent of money accrued to the Cyber Security fund which is N120bn.
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.
Aids, grants and assistance from international bilateral and multinational agencies, non-governmental organisation were also proposed as sources of fund for the police fund.
Ibrahim, who chairs the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, stated that the dilemma of the police as far as overhead cost allocation is concerned, could be seen from an analysis of what is required for fueling and maintenance of police vehicles, what is needed to provide kits for police personnel and the amount required to fund local travels and transport.
“The implication of the estimate is that the entire sum of N9,250,565,307 projected for all subheads in the overhead cost for police formations and command in the 2017 budget is not even enough to provide minimal fueling and maintenance cost for police operational vehicles for five months,” he said.
The Committee Chairman further stated that the basic requirement to provide adequate and appropriate items of kits for police personnel annually is N14,583,671,264 as against the N752,298,724 earmarked in the 2017 budget.
In his contribution, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, argued that the allocation of 0.5 per cent from the total revenue accruing to the federation account, to the fund, is in contrary toSection 162 of the 1999 Constitution.
He pointed out that such provision would therefore require an amendment to the constitution.
Ekweremadu rather harped on the decentralisation of the police to allow for state police, for better service delivery.
This position of the Deputy Senate President on state police was however 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.
After debating on the proposed law, the upper legislative chamber referred the bill to its committees on Police, Judiciary, Human rights and Legal Matters for further legislative action.
Presiding, the 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,” he said.
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