The Senate has approved a total of ₦403.1 billion for the Nigerian Police Trust Fund for the 2025 and 2026 fiscal years to strengthen policing and support efforts to tackle terrorism, kidnapping and other security challenges across the country.
The upper chamber approved ₦170.1 billion for the Trust Fund’s 2025 budget and ₦233 billion for the 2026 financial year.
The approved 2026 budget provides for personnel costs, capital projects and overhead expenditure aimed at enhancing the operational capacity of the Nigeria Police Force.
Lawmakers expressed confidence that the funding would improve the provision of critical equipment, infrastructure, training and other resources needed to strengthen security operations and address the country’s growing security challenges.
The approval comes amid rising insecurity in parts of the country, with citizens calling for stronger measures to improve public safety.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has transmitted to the Senate a bill seeking to reform Nigeria’s criminal justice system through the repeal and re-enactment of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
The proposed legislation seeks to replace the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2026, as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s criminal justice framework.
A key provision of the bill is the establishment of a Criminal Justice Monitoring Council to oversee the implementation of the law in courts within the Federal Capital Territory and other federal courts nationwide.
In a letter read during plenary, President Tinubu said the proposed legislation was intended to address procedural gaps and long-standing challenges that have slowed the administration of justice.
According to the President, the bill would also align Nigeria’s criminal justice system with emerging developments by promoting the use of technology, introducing innovative measures and improving the effective implementation of the law by relevant institutions.
The proposed legislation has been referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for further legislative consideration.
